Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007

A bill to target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

6/27/2007--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

• Sen. Joseph Biden [D, DE]
• and 7 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Hillary Clinton [D, NY]
  • Sen. Christopher Dodd [D, CT]
  • Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
  • Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI]
  • Sen. John Kerry [D, MA]
  • Sen. Carl Levin [D, MI]
  • Barack Obama
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Committees

• Senate Judiciary
• 1 more
  • Senate Judiciary
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.1711

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
June 27, 2007

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• Feb 13, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.
• Feb 12, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.
• Introduced on Jun 27, 2007.
• Jun 27, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8614-8615)
• Jun 27, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.79
• H.R.460
• H.R.4545
• S.1383
• S.1685

Related Issue Areas:

• Criminal justice
• Administrative procedure
• Alcoholism
• Budgets
• 27 more
• Cocaine
• Congress
• Congressional investigations
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Crack (Drug)
• Criminal liability
• Drug abuse
• Drug abuse prevention
• Drug abuse treatment
• Drug law enforcement
• Drug traffic
• Executive departments
• Exports
• Federal aid to law enforcement
• Fines (Penalties)
• Firearms
• Imports
• Law
• Mandatory sentences
• Prosecution
• Rehabilitation of criminals
• Sentences (Criminal procedure)
• Sentencing guidelines
• Trade
• U.S. Sentencing Commission
• Violence
• Weapons

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

April 28, 2008 'Winter's Doctrine' on water rights still haunts the American West

Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, the senior Republican and Democrat, respectively, from New Mexico, have brought the proposal forward in a bill, S. 1711 in ...

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Source: Indian Country Today, NY

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February 25, 2008 Crack the Disparity: Call the US Senate Now

Please take a few minutes to call your two US Senators and urge them to “eliminate the crack/powder disparity by supporting S. 1711, The Drug Sentencing ...

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Source: Drug Policy Alliance, DC

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February 13, 2008 Senator Biden Calls for an End to Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing ...

Biden urged his colleagues to support his legislation, S. 1711, the Drug Sentencing Reform & Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act, which would completely ...

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Source: All American Patriots (press release)

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Blog Coverage

December 18, 2008 UPDATE: VA TO REPAY WIDOWS BUT NOT WITH INTEREST -- VA's repayment ...

The bill was S. 1711 sec. 506 (use Thomas here... http://thomas.loc.gov/ ). So, for 12 years the VA has been demanding repayment from those who received a "last month" check. Background with backlinks here. ...

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Source: VA NEWS FLASH -- from Larry Scott of VA...

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December 17, 2008 US: Uncertain Future for Criminal Justice Reform « Pesky Emotional ...

The site cites bills introduced by Biden and cosponsored by Obama, such as the Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007 (S. 1711), which aimed to “eliminate the 100 to 1 quantity-based sentencing disparity ...

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Source: Pesky Emotional Republican

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November 27, 2008 End the Crack-Powder Disparity! « Pure Common Sense

There is a previous resolution which was introduced by Joe Biden – creator of the Drug Czar position and Vice President-Elect of the United States – which is S. 1711, the Drug Sentencing Reform and Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007. ...

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Source: Pure Common Sense

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