[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15973-15974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      CELEBRATING PASSAGE OF S. 1789, FAIR SENTENCING ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB INGLIS

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 16, 2010

  Mr. INGLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate our steps towards 
restoring a single standard within our criminal justice system. For too 
long, Federal sentencing guidelines have placed far harsher penalties 
on crack users and dealers than on the users and dealers of powder 
cocaine.
  As crack cocaine use became prevalent and made headlines in the mid-
1980s, experts suggested that crack was significantly more addictive 
and linked to greater urban violence than its powder counterpart. 
Congress came parachuting in with mandatory sentencing minimums and, 
for good measure, established an exaggerated 100:1 sentencing ratio.
  But like so many well-intended Congressional actions, the disparate 
mandatory sentences have had a devastating effect on our urban 
communities and racial minorities. The 1986 law has contributed to 
skyrocketing incarceration rates of low-level, non-violent drug-
offenders and even allowed these street-level dealers to be punished 
more harshly than drug-kingpins.

[[Page 15974]]

  We need to punish crimes, but this unjustified disparity has tied up 
law enforcement resources. It has encouraged skepticism and resentment 
within our African-American community and undermined public confidence 
in our nation's anti-drug laws.
  Former major league baseball player Willie Mays Aikens is a classic 
example of the sentencing disparity. Aikens faced a 20-year sentence 
for crack distribution and other crimes. Upon his release, Aikens 
commented that, had he been caught with powdered cocaine, he might have 
faced a single year's sentence, rather than the 12\1/2\ he faced for 
crack distribution. Aikens was grateful that the Sentencing Commission 
revisited his case and allowed for an early release.
  A broad coalition of civil rights, criminal justice, community-based, 
and faith-based organizations have joined forces to rectify the 
disparity. With the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 
(S.1789), the sentencing disparity is corrected from the current 100 to 
1 ratio to 18 to 1, while establishing stiff new penalties for serious 
drug offenses.
  I am delighted that Congress has decided to act. Upon his release, 
Aikens interviewed with ESPN. His words capture my sentiment. ``All I 
can say, it's about time.''

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