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Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-4020| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Bonnie Watson Coleman

Bonnie Watson Coleman

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (18)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)Mondaire Jones (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Jamaal Bowman (Democratic)Cori Bush (Democratic)
Committees (12)
• Committee on House Administration• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee• Highways and Transit Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Health Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Armed Services Committee• Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee• Budget Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 or the DPR Act of 2021 This bill transfers federal regulatory authority over controlled substances, eliminates federal penalties for some drug-related offenses, and removes some collateral consequences for certain criminal convictions. A collateral consequence is a penalty (e.g., a restriction on access to a program or service) imposed on an individual in addition to the penalty associated with the sentence. Specifically, the bill transfers regulatory authority over controlled substances from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, the bill directs HHS to establish a commission to determine a benchmark amount of a controlled substance for personal use supply. The bill eliminates federal criminal and civil penalties for simple possession of a controlled substance in an amount equal to or less than the benchmark. Finally, the bill removes the collateral consequences of certain convictions. For example, the bill removes some restrictions on eligibility for federal assistance and benefits for individuals who are convicted of certain drug-related offenses, reinstates the right to vote in federal elections for persons convicted of criminal offenses, and repeals the requirement for states to revoke or suspend driver's licenses of individuals who are convicted of drug offenses as a condition of receiving a full allocation of certain federal grant funds.
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Timeline
Jun 17, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 17, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Reform, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, House Administration, Armed Services, and the Budget, 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.
Jun 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 21, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • June 17, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • June 17, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Reform, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, House Administration, Armed Services, and the Budget, 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.


  • June 18, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • June 21, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-481: Democracy Restoration Act of 2021

Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-4020| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 or the DPR Act of 2021 This bill transfers federal regulatory authority over controlled substances, eliminates federal penalties for some drug-related offenses, and removes some collateral consequences for certain criminal convictions. A collateral consequence is a penalty (e.g., a restriction on access to a program or service) imposed on an individual in addition to the penalty associated with the sentence. Specifically, the bill transfers regulatory authority over controlled substances from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, the bill directs HHS to establish a commission to determine a benchmark amount of a controlled substance for personal use supply. The bill eliminates federal criminal and civil penalties for simple possession of a controlled substance in an amount equal to or less than the benchmark. Finally, the bill removes the collateral consequences of certain convictions. For example, the bill removes some restrictions on eligibility for federal assistance and benefits for individuals who are convicted of certain drug-related offenses, reinstates the right to vote in federal elections for persons convicted of criminal offenses, and repeals the requirement for states to revoke or suspend driver's licenses of individuals who are convicted of drug offenses as a condition of receiving a full allocation of certain federal grant funds.
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Timeline
Jun 17, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 17, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Reform, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, House Administration, Armed Services, and the Budget, 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.
Jun 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 21, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • June 17, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • June 17, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Reform, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, House Administration, Armed Services, and the Budget, 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.


  • June 18, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • June 21, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Bonnie Watson Coleman

Bonnie Watson Coleman

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (18)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)Mondaire Jones (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Jamaal Bowman (Democratic)Cori Bush (Democratic)
Committees (12)
• Committee on House Administration• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee• Highways and Transit Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Health Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Armed Services Committee• Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee• Budget Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-481: Democracy Restoration Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted