Statement of the Attorney General on Senate Judiciary Committee'sApproval of the Fair Sentencing Act

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Mar 11, 2010, 05:31 ET

WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by the Attorney General on the Senate Judiciary Committee's approval of the Fair Sentencing Act:

"There is no law enforcement or sentencing rationale for the current disparity between crack and cocaine powder offenses, and I have strongly supported eliminating it to ensure our sentencing laws are tough, predictable and fair.

"The bill voted unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today makes progress toward achieving a more just sentencing policy while maintaining the necessary law enforcement tools to appropriately punish violent and dangerous drug traffickers.

"I applaud the work of the Senate Judiciary Committee, particularly Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Sessions and Senators Durbin and Graham, in taking such an important step toward reforming our sentencing laws. I look forward to the Senate and the House approving this legislation quickly so that it can be signed into law."

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SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice