Legis Daily

EQUAL Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-1693| House 
| Updated: 9/29/2021
Hakeem S. Jeffries

Hakeem S. Jeffries

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (56)
Dusty Johnson (Republican)Val Butler Demings (Democratic)Barry Moore (Republican)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Frank D. Lucas (Republican)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Mikie Sherrill (Democratic)Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Tom Malinowski (Democratic)Ashley Hinson (Republican)Don Young (Republican)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)David J. Trone (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Van Taylor (Republican)Victoria Spartz (Republican)Mondaire Jones (Democratic)Stephanie I. Bice (Republican)William R. Timmons (Republican)Tom McClintock (Republican)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Katherine M. Clark (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Thomas Massie (Republican)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Don Bacon (Republican)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)David P. Joyce (Republican)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Nancy Mace (Republican)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Kelly Armstrong (Republican)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Peter Meijer (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Burgess Owens (Republican)Ralph Norman (Republican)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Louie Gohmert (Republican)Fred Keller (Republican)

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Health Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Act of 2021 This bill eliminates the federal sentencing disparity between drug offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Currently, different threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine (e.g., 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine) trigger the same statutory criminal penalties. This bill eliminates the lower quantity thresholds for crack cocaine offenses. Under the bill, the same threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine trigger the same statutory criminal penalties. The change applies to future cases and cases pending on the date of enactment. With respect to past cases, the bill authorizes a sentencing court to impose a reduced sentence on a defendant who was convicted or sentenced for a specified crack cocaine offense before this bill's enactment. A defendant does not have to be present at the sentence reduction hearing. Finally, the bill prohibits the reduction of a sentence that was previously reduced.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 115-4861
EQUAL Act of 2018
Jan 28, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-79
Introduced in Senate
Mar 9, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 9, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 10, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jul 21, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 21, 2021
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
Jul 21, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Sep 27, 2021
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.
Sep 27, 2021
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.
Sep 27, 2021
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Sep 28, 2021
Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 28, 2021
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5477-5481)
Sep 28, 2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1693.
Sep 28, 2021
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Sep 28, 2021
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5492-5493)
Sep 28, 2021
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 361 - 66 (Roll no. 297). (text: CR H5477)
View Vote
Sep 28, 2021
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 29, 2021
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 115-4861
    EQUAL Act of 2018


  • January 28, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-79
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 9, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • March 9, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • March 10, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • May 18, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • July 21, 2021
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • July 21, 2021
    Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.


  • July 21, 2021
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).


  • September 27, 2021
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.


  • September 27, 2021
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.


  • September 27, 2021
    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.


  • September 28, 2021
    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • September 28, 2021
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5477-5481)


  • September 28, 2021
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1693.


  • September 28, 2021
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • September 28, 2021
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5492-5493)


  • September 28, 2021
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 361 - 66 (Roll no. 297). (text: CR H5477)
    View Vote


  • September 28, 2021
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 29, 2021
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-79: EQUAL Act
Criminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substances

EQUAL Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-1693| House 
| Updated: 9/29/2021
Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Act of 2021 This bill eliminates the federal sentencing disparity between drug offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Currently, different threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine (e.g., 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine) trigger the same statutory criminal penalties. This bill eliminates the lower quantity thresholds for crack cocaine offenses. Under the bill, the same threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine trigger the same statutory criminal penalties. The change applies to future cases and cases pending on the date of enactment. With respect to past cases, the bill authorizes a sentencing court to impose a reduced sentence on a defendant who was convicted or sentenced for a specified crack cocaine offense before this bill's enactment. A defendant does not have to be present at the sentence reduction hearing. Finally, the bill prohibits the reduction of a sentence that was previously reduced.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 115-4861
EQUAL Act of 2018
Jan 28, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-79
Introduced in Senate
Mar 9, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 9, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 10, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jul 21, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 21, 2021
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
Jul 21, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Sep 27, 2021
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.
Sep 27, 2021
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.
Sep 27, 2021
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Sep 28, 2021
Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 28, 2021
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5477-5481)
Sep 28, 2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1693.
Sep 28, 2021
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Sep 28, 2021
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5492-5493)
Sep 28, 2021
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 361 - 66 (Roll no. 297). (text: CR H5477)
View Vote
Sep 28, 2021
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 29, 2021
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 115-4861
    EQUAL Act of 2018


  • January 28, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-79
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 9, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • March 9, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • March 10, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • May 18, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • July 21, 2021
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • July 21, 2021
    Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.


  • July 21, 2021
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).


  • September 27, 2021
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.


  • September 27, 2021
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.


  • September 27, 2021
    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.


  • September 28, 2021
    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • September 28, 2021
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5477-5481)


  • September 28, 2021
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1693.


  • September 28, 2021
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • September 28, 2021
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5492-5493)


  • September 28, 2021
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 361 - 66 (Roll no. 297). (text: CR H5477)
    View Vote


  • September 28, 2021
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 29, 2021
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Hakeem S. Jeffries

Hakeem S. Jeffries

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (56)
Dusty Johnson (Republican)Val Butler Demings (Democratic)Barry Moore (Republican)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Frank D. Lucas (Republican)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Mikie Sherrill (Democratic)Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Tom Malinowski (Democratic)Ashley Hinson (Republican)Don Young (Republican)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)David J. Trone (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Van Taylor (Republican)Victoria Spartz (Republican)Mondaire Jones (Democratic)Stephanie I. Bice (Republican)William R. Timmons (Republican)Tom McClintock (Republican)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Katherine M. Clark (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Thomas Massie (Republican)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Don Bacon (Republican)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)David P. Joyce (Republican)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Nancy Mace (Republican)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Kelly Armstrong (Republican)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Peter Meijer (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Burgess Owens (Republican)Ralph Norman (Republican)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Louie Gohmert (Republican)Fred Keller (Republican)

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Health Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-79: EQUAL Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Criminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substances