WASHINGTON, July 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. House and Senate are moving toward legislation to equalize sentencing for powder and crack cocaine, a Senate leader said.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., mentioned the disparity in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine during confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Current laws allow for more severe sentences for crack than for powder cocaine. Since African-Americans use crack more than powder, they are disproportionately punished.