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HR 1459 111th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal procedure and sentencing Drug trafficking and controlled substances Smuggling and trafficking

Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009

Introduced: March 12, 2009 Introduced by: Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" Democratic · Virginia See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 21, 2009
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 27, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Mar 16, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 12, 2009
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Mar 12, 2009
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 12, 2009
Referred to House Judiciary
Mar 12, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009- Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to eliminate: (1) increased and mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses involving mixtures or substances which contain cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine); and (2) restrictions on judicial authority to grant probation or suspended sentences for certain cocaine offenses.

What's happening now May 21, 2009

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1459: Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1459/
MLA
"H.R. 1459: Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1459/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1459, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1459/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1459: Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1459/)
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