Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007

To target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

12/13/2007--Introduced.
Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for crack cocaine trafficking to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and the role of the defendant in such crime, taking into account certain aggravating and mitigating factors. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to improve drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to establish demonstration programs to reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs by substance abusers while incarcerated and until the completion of parole or court supervision. Increases monetary penalties for drug trafficking and for the importation and exportation of controlled substances. Authorizes appropriations to the Departments of Justice, the Treasury, and Homeland Security for FY2008-FY2009 for the prosecution of, and for supporting the prosecution of, high-level drug offenses.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
• and 42 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
  • Rep. Robert Brady [D, PA-1]
  • Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
  • Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
  • Rep. Donna Christensen [D, VI-0]
  • Rep. Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
  • Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
  • Rep. James Clyburn [D, SC-6]
  • Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
  • Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]
  • Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
  • Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
  • Rep. Chaka Fattah [D, PA-2]
  • Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
  • Rep. Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
  • Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
  • Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
  • Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D, IL-4]
  • Rep. Alcee Hastings [D, FL-23]
  • Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
  • Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
  • Rep. William Jefferson [D, LA-2]
  • Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
  • Rep. Stephanie Jones [D, OH-11]
  • Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
  • Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
  • Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
  • Rep. Gregory Meeks [D, NY-6]
  • Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
  • Rep. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0]
  • Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
  • Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
  • Rep. Bobby Rush [D, IL-1]
  • Rep. David Scott [D, GA-13]
  • Rep. José Serrano [D, NY-16]
  • Rep. Christopher Shays [R, CT-4]
  • Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
  • Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2]
  • Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
  • Rep. Diane Watson [D, CA-33]
  • Rep. Albert Wynn [D, MD-4]
  close

Committees

• House Judiciary
• 2 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Energy and Commerce
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.4545

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
December 13, 2007

Show All Actions (6 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Dec 13, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• Dec 13, 2007: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Dec 13, 2007: Referred to House Judiciary
• Dec 13, 2007: 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.
• Dec 13, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H15446-15448)
• Introduced on Dec 13, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.79
• H.R.460
• S.1383
• S.1685
• S.1711

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

February 12, 2008 Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Need to Reform 100-to-1 Crack ...

In 2008, ACLU urges Congress to enact S.1711 and HR 4545, the Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007, in order to end the ...

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Source: ACLU (press release), NY

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December 18, 2007 ACLU Joins Representative Jackson-Lee’s Call for Sentencing Fix

Jackson-Lee’s recently introduced legislation, HR 4545, the "Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007." This bill would eliminate ...

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Source: ACLU (press release), NY

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Blog Coverage

July 15, 2008 2008feb12_hdrugsentref_l

February 12, 2008 Dear Representative: I write on behalf of the American Bar Association to express our strong support for HR4545, the Drug Sentencing Reform and Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007, legislation to eliminate the current ...

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July 07, 2008 Tom Tancredo for President!: Tancredo: 100% Conservative

The bill was passed (226-193)ACU supported this billThis member voted in support of ACU's position Gasoline Price Reduction -- Passage HR 4545 (Roll Call 247)The House passed a bill allowing limited waivers from state fuel additive ...

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April 22, 2008 my drunken boat: my first post

The bill was passed (226-193)ACU supported this billThis member voted in support of ACU's position Gasoline Price Reduction -- Passage HR 4545 (Roll Call 247)The House passed a bill allowing limited waivers from state fuel additive ...

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