HOUSE PASSES BILL TO EASE CRACK-COCAINE SENTENCES

The House approved a bill Wednesday that lightens federal sentences
for crack-cocaine defendants, sending it to President Barack Obama for
his signature.

After years of false starts, lawmakers approved the legislation on a
voice vote.

The bill would raise the minimum quantity of crack cocaine required to
trigger a five-year sentence to 28 grams from five grams, potentially
shortening prison time for thousands of defendants sentenced each year.

The impact on federal sentencing could be substantial. U.S. Sentencing
Commission projections show that more than 2,900 crack defendants
sentenced each year would get shorter terms, averaging 27 months less
time.