Jack Brooks: “I rise in full support of the revised amendment by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Hughes], a distinguished former…”

“I rise in full support of the revised amendment by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Hughes], a distinguished former prosecutor and a very thoughtful subcommittee Chair on the Judiciary Committee. First, let me make clear that this amendment is not about condoning the possession or use of any illegal drug. Neither Mr. Hughes nor I would support such an amendment. This amendment simply asks for a study of the existing sentencing structure for cocaine violations. Of all the existing mandatory minimums in Federal law today, there is none that has drawn more attention by judges than that which is applied to cocaine. For example, the simple possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine carries a mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison. At the same time, there is no mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of powder cocaine--the identical chemical substance constituting crack cocaine. The amendment offered by Mr. Hughes would provide us with the necessary information to understand whether there is a disproportionality in these sentences or a disparity in their application that was not intended by Congress when it developed the sentencing scheme for cocaine. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the Hughes amendment.”