,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #gaid  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,june #aa1 #bjbj,ms4  
,wat]s 7= h]self1 ,ms4 ,s*ak[sky1 ,ms4  
,lee ( ,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4    
,pocan1 & ,mr4 ,khanna7 introduc$ !     
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ! ,judici>y1 & 9 addition 
to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce1 = 
a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by !  
,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*
 provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( !
 committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
elim9ate m&atory m9imum s5t5ces = all   
drug (f5ses4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act 
may be cit$ z ! ,m&atory ,m9imum ,re=m  
,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress     
makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,m&atory     
m9imum s5t5ces are /atutorily prescrib$ 
t]ms ( imprisonm5t t automatically atta*
 ^u conviction ( c]ta9 crim9al conduct1 
(t5 p]ta9+ to drug (f5ses4 ,abs5t v n>r[
 crit]ia = relief1 a s5t5c+ judge is    
p[]less to m&ate a t]m ( imprisonm5t    
bel[ ! m&atory m9imum4 ,m&atory m9imum  

s5t5ces = drug (f5ses rely solely ^u !  
weight ( ! sub/ance z a proxy = !       
def5dant's role & degree ( involvem5t4  
7#b7 ,9 ! ,anti-,drug ,abuse ,act (     
#aihf1 & at ! height ( ! public conc]n  
ov] crack coca9e1 ,congress act$ ha/ily1
 )\t suffici5t he>+s1 & enact$ h>d l9e  
p5alties t t>get$ l[-level drug (f5d]s4 
,^! p5alties includ$ new1 long m&atory  
m9imum s5t5ces = su* (f5d]s4  7#c7      
,accord+ to ! ,bureau ( ,prisons1 9     
#aihf1 :5 ! new drug law conta9+ l5g?y  
m&atory m9imum s5t5ces pass$1 ! prison  
population 0 #cf1jjj4 ,today1 ! ,f$]al  
prison population is ov] #agg1jjj up ov]
 #cij p]c5t 9 #cc ye>s4  7#d7 ,accord+  
to ! ,bureau ( ,prisons1 ! av]age co/ to
 keep "o prison] 9 ,f$]al prison = !    
fiscal ye> ( #bjag 0 #cf1bii4be1 :i*    
equates to #ii4de p] day4  7#e7 ,annual 
sp5d+ on ! ,f$]al prison sy/em rose by  
ov] #fjj p]c5t1 f r\ghly #iff1jjj1jjj to
 m ?an #f4i billion 9 inflation-adju/$  
doll>s1 betwe5 #aihj & #bjae4  7#f7     
,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+            

,commission1 #fi1dbe (f5d]s 7 s5t5c$ 9  
fiscal ye> #bjah4 ,( ^?1 #ah1ifd (f5d]s 
7 s5t5c$ = a drug traffick+ (f5se2 ) ov]
 half 7#eh4d p]c5t7 ( all drug traffick+
 (f5d]s convict$ ( an (f5se c>ry+ a     
m&atory m9imum p5alty4  7#g7 ,accord+ to
 ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1 drug     
(f5d]s releas$ f prison 9 #aihf :o _h   
be5 s5t5c$ be=e ! adoption ( m&atory    
s5t5ces & s5t5c+ guidel9es _h s]v$ an   
av]age ( #bb mon?s 9 prison4 ,9 fiscal  
ye> #bjah1 ! av]age s5t5ce = drug       
traffick+ (f5d]s subject to a m&atory   
m9imum p5alty 0 m ?an #aj ye>s 7#aca    
mon?s2 #fb mon?s ) relief74  7#h7 ,9    
fiscal ye> #bjaf1 _m ( ^? (f5d]s        
convict$ ( an (f5se c>ry+ a m&atory     
m9imum s5t5ce 7 nonviol5t or l[-level   
(f5d]s4 ,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+    
,commission1 only #bh4g p]c5t (         
convictions = drug traffick+ (f5ses     
c>ry+ a m&atory m9imum p5alty involv$ ! 
use ( a weapon1 viol5ce1 or ?reats (    
viol5ce4 ,only #aa4g p]c5t ( (f5d]s     
convict$ ( su* (f5ses play$ a lead]%ip  

role4  7#i7 ,m&atory m9imum s5t5ces h   
hi/orically be5 %[n to h a              
disproportionate impact on ,african     
,am]icans4 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates ,s5t5c+     
,commission1 9 a #ae-ye> ov]view ( !    
,f$]al s5t5c+ sy/em1 conclud$ t m&atory 
p5alty /atutes are us$ inconsi/5tly &   
disproportionately affect               
,african-,am]ican def5dants4 ,accord+ to
 ano!r ,unit$ ,/ates ,s5t5c+ ,commission
 report1 9 fiscal ye> #bjaf1 ( ! #h1cdb 
(f5d]s :o 7 subject to a ,f$]al m&atory 
m9imum p5alty at s5t5c+1 ,black (f5d]s 7
 ! l>ge/ gr\p1 repres5t+ #ce4e p]c5t1   
foll[$ by ,:ite (f5d]s1 :o repres5t$    
#ca4a p]c5t1 & ,hispanic (f5d]s1 :o     
repres5t$ #cj4i p]c5t4  7#aj7 ,accord+  
to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1 betwe5 
#aiid & #bjjc1 ! av]age "t s]v$ by      
,african ,am]icans = a drug (f5se       
increas$ by #fb p]c5t1 comp>$ to a      
#ag-p]c5t increase among ,:ite drug     
def5dants4  7#aa7 ,accord+ to !         
,sub/ance ,abuse & ,m5tal ,heal?        
,s]vices ,adm9i/ration1 surveys h       

docum5t$ t drug use is r\ghly consi/5t  
across racial & e?nic gr\ps4 ,:ile !re  
is less data available reg>d+ drug      
sell]s1 rese>* f ! ,(fice ( ,national   
,drug ,control ,policy & ! ,national    
,in/itute ( ,ju/ice has f\nd t drug us]s
 g5]ally buy drugs f someone ( _! own   
racial or e?nic backgr\nd4 ,b1 accord+  
to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1 ab\t   
#gc p]c5t ( all drug (f5d]s s5t5c$ 9    
#bjah 7 ,african ,am]ican & ,hispanic1  
_m ( :om are l[-level (f5d]s4  7#ab7 ,z 
a result ( ,f$]al prosecutors' focus on 
l[-level drug (f5d]s1 ! ov]:elm+        
majority ( individuals subject to !     
height5$ crack coca9e p5alties are      
,african ,am]ican4 ,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 
,s5t5c+ ,commission1 9 fiscal ye> #bjaf1
 ( ^? (f5d]s s5t5c$ on ,f$]al crack     
coca9e *>ges1 only #e4e p]c5t 7 ,:ite1  
:ile #hb4f p]c5t & #aa4d p]c5t 7        
,african ,am]ican & ,hispanic1          
respectively4  7#ac7 ,accord+ to !      
,u4,s4 ,c5sus1 ,african ,am]icans       
comprise #ac4c p]c5t ( ! ,u4,s4         

population1 b accord+ to ! ,u4,s4       
,s5t5c+ ,commission1 9 fiscal ye> #bjah 
,african ,am]icans made up #bd4i p]c5t (
 all drug traffick+ (f5d]s4  7#ad7      
,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+            
,commission1 9 fiscal ye> #bjaf1 ab\t   
#cd4f p]c5t ( wom5 ent]+ ,f$]al prison  
did s = a drug (f5se4 ,l9k+ drug        
quantity ) puni%m5t sev]ity has _h a    
p>ticul>ly pr(\nd impact on wom51 :o are
 hi/orically m likely to play p]iph]al  
roles 9 a drug ent]prise ?an m54 ,h[ev]1
 because prosecutors c atta* drug       
quantities to an individual reg>dless ( 
! level ( a def5dant's p>ticipation 9 ! 
*>g$ (f5se1 wom5 h be5 expos$ to        
increas+ly punitive s5t5ces4  7#ae7     
,l[-level & mid-level drug (f5d]s c be  
adequately prosecut$ by ! ,/ates &      
puni%$ or sup]vis$ 9 treatm5t z         
appropriate4  7#af7 ,congress has an    
obligation to taxpay]s to use s5t5c+    
policies t are co/-effective & increase 
public safety1 9 addition to e/abli%+ a 
crim9al ju/ice sy/em t is fair1         

effici5t1 & provides j s5t5ces = (f5d]s4
 ,m&atory s5t5ces h n be5 conclusively  
%[n to r$uce recidivism or det] crime4  
7#ag7 ,! limit$ res\rces 9 ! ,f$]al     
crim9al ju/ice sy/em %\ld be us$ to     
protect society by incapacitat+ dang]\s 
& viol5t (f5d]s :o pose a ?reat to      
public safety4  7#ah7 ,! ,f$]al judici>y
 has ! exp]tise & is 9 ! be/ position to
 s5t5ce ea* (f5d] & det]m9e :o %\ld be  
s5t to ,f$]al prisons & ! am\nt ( "t ea*
 (f5d] %\ld s]ve4  #c4 ,approval ( c]ta9
 prosecutions by ,attorney ,g5]al ,a    
,f$]al prosecution = an (f5se "u !      
,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act1 ! ,controll$
 ,sub/ances ,import & ,export ,act1 or =
 any conspiracy to commit su* an (f5se1 
:]e ! (f5se involves ! illegal          
di/ribution or possession ( a controll$ 
sub/ance 9 an am\nt less ?an t am\nt    
specifi$ z a m9imum = an (f5se "u       
section #dja7;b77#a77;,a7 ( ! ,controll$
 ,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4         
#hda7;b77#a77;,a77 or1 9 ! case ( any   
sub/ance conta9+ coca9e or coca9e base1 

9 an am\nt less ?an #ejj grams1 %all n  
be comm5c$ )\t ! prior writt5 approval (
 ! ,attorney ,g5]al4  #d4 ,modification 
( c]ta9 s5t5c+ provisions  7a7 ,section 
#djd ,section #djd7;a7 ( ! ,controll$   
,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hdd7;a77
 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ n less ?an #ae
 days b2  7#b7 by /rik+ n less ?an #ij  
days b2 &  7#c7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce beg9n+
 ,! imposition or execution ( a m9imum  
s5t5ce4  7b7 ,section #dja ,section     
#dja7;b7 ( ! ,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act 
7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hda7;b77 is am5d$-- 7#a7
 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+   
:i* may n be less ?an #aj ye>s & or m   
?an & ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or =2     
7,b7 by /rik+ & if dea? or s]i\s bodily 
injury results f ! use ( su* sub/ance   
%all n be less ?an #bj ye>s or m ?an    
life2  7,c7 by /rik+ :i* may n be less  
?an #bj ye>s & n m ?an life imprisonm5t 
& if dea? or s]i\s bodily injury results
 f ! use ( su* sub/ance %all be s5t5c$  
to imprisonm5t = any t]m ( ye>s or =    
life imprisonm5t & ins]t+ = any t]m (   

ye>s or = life2  7,d7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce 
beg9n+ ,if any p]son commits a violation
 ( ?is subp>agraph2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ !  
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision
 ( law & ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son      
s5t5c$2  7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,b7--    
7,a7 by /rik+ :i* may n be less ?an #e  
ye>s & & ins]t+ =2  7,b7 by /rik+ n less
 ?an #bj ye>s or m ?an1 & ins]t+ = any  
t]m or ye>s or =2  7,c7 by /rik+ :i* may
 n be less ?an #aj ye>s & n m ?an &     
ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or =2  7,d7 by  
ins]t+ imprisonm5t = any t]m ( ye>s or =
 aft] if dea? or s]i\s bodily injury    
results f ! use ( su* sub/ance %all be  
s5t5c$ to2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce    
beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law 
& ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son s5t5c$2 &   
7#c7 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c71 by /rik+ ( n 
less ?an tw5ty ye>s or m ?an life &     
ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or to life      
imprisonm5t4  7c7 ,section #ajaj        
,section #ajaj7;b7 ( ! ,controll$       
,sub/ances ,import & ,export ,act 7#ba  
,u4,s4,c4 #ifj7;b77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9   

p>agraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ ( n less  
?an #aj ye>s & n m ?an & ins]t+ = any   
t]m ( ye>s or =2  7,b7 by /rik+ & if    
dea? ! fir/ place x appe>s & all t      
foll[s ?r\gh #bj ye>s & n m ?an life !  
fir/ place x appe>s2  7,c7 by /rik+ ( n 
less ?an #bj ye>s & n m ?an life        
imprisonm5t & ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or
 = life2  7,d7 by /rik+ & if dea? or    
s]i\s bodily injury results f ! use (   
su* sub/ance %all be s5t5c$ to life     
imprisonm5t2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce  
beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law 
& ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son s5t5c$2     
7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ n  
less ?an #e ye>s &2  7,b7 by /rik+ ( n  
less ?an tw5ty ye>s & n m ?an & ins]t+ =
 any t]m ( ye>s or =2  7,c7 by /rik+ ( n
 less ?an #aj ye>s & n m ?an & ins]t+ = 
any t]m ( ye>s or to2  7,d7 by /rik+ &  
if dea? or s]i\s bodily injury results f
 ! use ( su* sub/ance %all be s5t5c$ to 
life imprisonm5t2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ !    
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision
 ( law & ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son      

s5t5c$2 &  7#c7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by     
/rik+ ( n less ?an tw5ty ye>s & n m ?an 
life & ins]t+ = any t]m or ye>s or =    
life4  7d7 ,section #dah ,section #dah (
 ! ,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act 7#ba      
,u4,s4,c4 #hei7 is am5d$ by /rik+ !     
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,except to ! ext5t ea*    
place x appe>s & by /rik+ ! s5t5ce      
beg9n+ ,! m&atory m9imum4  7e7 ,section 
#dai ,section #dai ( ! ,controll$       
,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hfj7 is 
am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce beg9n+   
,except to ! ext5t ea* place x appe>s & 
by /rik+ ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,! m&atory     
m9imum2 &  7#b7 by /rik+ subsection 7d74
  7f7 ,section #dbj ,section #dbj ( !   
,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act 7#ba         
,u4,s4,c4 #hfa7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 ea* ( 
subsections 7b7 & 7c71 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce
 beg9n+ ,except to ! ext5t2  7#b7 by    
/rik+ subsection 7e72 &  7#c7 9         
subsection 7f71 by /rik+ 1 7c71 & 7e7 & 
ins]t+ & 7c74