Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) issued the following statement after the Committee voted to advance four pieces of legislation to the full House of Representatives: 

"I am very proud of the bipartisan legislation passed by the Judiciary Committee today. The bills passed will provide long overdue reforms to our criminal justice system, including ending the unjust crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentencing disparity that has greatly contributed to the rise of mass incarceration, devastated communities of color, and severely undermined public confidence in our justice system. Additionally, these bills address inequities in our veterans treatment courts, assist individuals recently released from correctional facilities as they go through the difficult process of rejoining their communities, and protect immigrants from notraio fraud. I thank all the Members for their work, and I urge passages of these bill by the full House of Representatives." 

The Committee favorably reported the following bills: 

H.R. 1693, the EQUAL Act 

The EQUAL Act, introduced by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Don Bacon (R-NE), eliminates the unjust sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses and allow defendants who were previously convicted or sentenced for a federal offense involving crack cocaine to petition for a sentence reduction. The bill was passed by vote of 36-5. 

H.R. 4035, the Real Justice for Our Veterans Act of 2021

The Real Justice for Our Veterans Act, introduced by Chairman Nadler and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), promotes equity and inclusion in our veterans treatment courts, ensures that the most effective rehabilitative treatments are implemented and available to all veterans who need them, and expands access to rehabilitative services to veterans who would otherwise qualify for treatment but who do not have a veterans treatment court in their jurisdiction. The bill was passed by a voice vote.

H.R. 3372, the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021

The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act, introduced by Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), authorizes grants to community organizations to create centralized reentry intake and coordination centers that would serve as the home base for individuals recently released from correctional facilities as they go through the process of rejoining their communities. The bill was passed by a vote of 31-8. 

H.R. 4435, the Fight Notario Fraud Act of 2021

The Fight Notario Fraud Act, introduced by Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX), criminalizes the practice by unlicensed, and often untrained, people who offer legal services in immigration matters to unsuspecting victims. The bill was passed by a vote of 20-17.