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S 1789 111th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative law and regulatory procedures Congressional oversight Correctional facilities and imprisonment Criminal procedure and sentencing Drug trafficking and controlled substances Firearms and explosives U.S. Sentencing Commission Violent crime

Fair Sentencing Act of 2009

Introduced: October 15, 2009 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 3, 2010
Became Public Law No: 111-220.
Aug 3, 2010
Signed by President.
Jul 29, 2010
Presented to President.
Jul 28, 2010
Cleared for White House.
Jul 28, 2010
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 28, 2010
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6196-6197)
Jul 28, 2010
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6196-6204)
Jul 28, 2010
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1789.
Jul 28, 2010
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6196-6197)
Jul 28, 2010
Mr. Scott (VA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jun 15, 2010
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Mar 18, 2010
Received in the House.
Mar 18, 2010
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 18, 2010
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Mar 18, 2010
Referred to House Judiciary
Mar 18, 2010
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 17, 2010
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1680-1683; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1682)
Mar 17, 2010
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1680-1683; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1682)
Mar 15, 2010
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
Mar 15, 2010
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Mar 11, 2010
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Oct 15, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 15, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10490-10492)
Oct 15, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on March 15, 2010. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to: (1) increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for trafficking; and (2) increase monetary penalties for drug trafficking and for the importation and exportation of controlled substances.

Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine.

Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to: (1) review and amend its sentencing guidelines to increase sentences for defendants convicted of using violence during a drug trafficking offense; (2) incorporate aggravating and mitigating factors in its guidelines for drug trafficking offenses; (3) promulgate guidelines, policy statements, or amendments required by this Act as soon as practicable, but not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act; and (4) study and report to Congress on the impact of changes in sentencing law under this Act.

Directs the Comptroller General, within one year after the enactment of this Act, to report to Congress analyzing the effectiveness of drug court programs under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.

What's happening now August 3, 2010

Became Public Law No: 111-220.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 265 Related bill Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2009
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 2 Republican 3 Independent 1
D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Apr 15, 2010
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Apr 13, 2010
 R
Cornyn, John
Texas · Mar 16, 2010
 R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Mar 15, 2010
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Nov 2, 2009
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Oct 15, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1789: Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1789/
MLA
"S. 1789: Fair Sentencing Act of 2010." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1789/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1789, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1789/.
Markdown link
[S. 1789: Fair Sentencing Act of 2010](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1789/)
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