Sheila Jackson Lee: “Although the Terry decision bars crack offenders convicted of offenses involving small amounts of crack--like the 3.9…”

“Although the Terry decision bars crack offenders convicted of offenses involving small amounts of crack--like the 3.9 grams of crack that the petitioner possessed--that do not trigger the mandatory minimum penalties, Congress can address this injustice. H.R. 5455, aptly named the Terry Technical Correction Act, would guarantee the ability to seek a sentence reduction to all individuals who have unfairly lost years of freedom under the unfounded 100-1 disparity, including those whose requests for sentence reduction was previously denied based on the narrow interpretation of the First Step Act. While I continue to look forward to the day that we will fully eliminate the powder-to-crack disparity, I thank Representatives Cicilline, Jeffries, Owens, Massie, and Delegate Holmes Norton for working with me on this crucial bipartisan piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this. It is long overdue. I also include for the Record a press release from the Maryland Attorney General. [Press Release from Brian E. Frosh, Maryland Attorney General, Sept. 2, 2021] Attorney General Frosh Calls on Congress to Clarify First Step Act and Apply Fair Sentencing Reforms to Low-Level Drug Offenses Baltimore, MD.--Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today joined a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general urging Congress to amend the First Step Act and extend critical resentencing reforms to individuals convicted of the lowest- level crack cocaine offenses.…”