Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

passed · United States · House Sep 15, 2025

HR 3486: Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025

HR 3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025, increases penalties for certain immigration violations under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It raises the mandatory prison term for unlawful entry (Section 275) from 2 to 5 years and adds new provisions for aliens who commit crimes after entry. For reentry after removal (Section 276), it increases the base penalty to up to 10 years imprisonment, with enhanced penalties of up to 15 years for those with prior drug or violent crime convictions, and mandatory minimums of 10 years or more for those with prior aggravated felonies, multiple removals, or prior convictions for serious crimes. The bill directly affects noncitizens who enter the U.S. illegally or reenter after being removed, with penalties applying to specific categories of prior criminal conduct.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms for immigration violations, directly aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationIncreases mandatory prison terms for immigration violations, raising penalties from 2 to 5 years and up to 15 years for repeat offenders with crimes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · United States · Senate Jun 11, 2025

S 1136: DETERRENCE Act

S 1136, the DETERRENCE Act, adds sentencing enhancements for certain federal crimes when committed "knowingly at the direction of or in coordination with a foreign government or an agent of a foreign government." It applies to existing offenses including kidnapping (up to 10 additional years), murder-for-hire (up to 10 years), stalking (up to 10 years for serious cases), attacks on federal officials (up to 10 years), and threats against presidential staff (up to 10 years). The bill does not create new crimes but increases penalties for specific violations where foreign government coordination is proven. It directly affects individuals convicted under these provisions who are found to have acted with foreign government involvement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds 10-year sentencing enhancements for specific federal crimes involving foreign coordination, increasing mandatory penalties per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing

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in committee · United States · House Jun 23, 2025

HR 4081: Foreign Adversary Federal Offense Act of 2025

HR 4081, the Foreign Adversary Federal Offense Act of 2025, increases penalties for economic espionage and defense information offenses committed to benefit nations designated as adversaries by the U.S. government. It adds mandatory minimum 10-year prison terms (up to 20 years for severe harm) and fines up to $5 million for individuals, while imposing organizational fines of up to $20 million or 5 times the value of stolen trade secrets. The law specifically targets offenses involving critical infrastructure data - such as security vulnerabilities of systems covered under the USA PATRIOT Act - that could cause significant harm if exploited. This directly affects individuals and organizations convicted of sharing U.S. economic or defense secrets with foreign adversaries.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentences for economic espionage, expanding criminalization and harsher penalties without reform elements.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill increases penalties for espionage stealing technology trade secrets and defense information, protecting critical tech assets from foreign adversaries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · United States · House Apr 29, 2025

HR 3065: Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act of 2025

This bill amends federal murder law to treat distributing fentanyl that causes death as felony murder, directly affecting individuals who distribute fentanyl in specified quantities resulting in fatalities. It defines "distributing fentanyl" as distributing at least 2 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl or 0.5 grams of its analogues, knowing it contains the substance and causing death. The key provision adds a new felony murder category under Section 1111(b)(2), imposing the death penalty or life imprisonment for such acts. The bill explicitly ties the penalty to the specific fentanyl quantities and the causal link to death, without altering other murder definitions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by imposing felony murder penalties (including death penalty) for fentanyl distribution causing death, increasing mandatory sentences and reducing defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 4, 2025

S 1949: Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act

This bill (S 1949) creates new penalties for manufacturing or distributing candy-flavored drugs marketed to minors. It specifically targets producers who combine schedule I or II controlled substances with candy/beverage products, market them to appear like candy, or modify them with candy-like flavors/coloring, knowing they’ll be sold to people under 18. First offenses carry up to 10 additional years in prison, while repeat offenses carry up to 20 additional years. Exceptions apply for FDA-approved medications sold as prescribed and products altered under a doctor’s direction for legitimate medical use.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory prison sentences (up to 20 years) for candy-flavored drug offenses targeting minors, expanding criminalization and harsh sentencing, opposing criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · United States · House Jul 21, 2026

HR 1266: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

HR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill adds xylazine to Schedule III, expanding criminalization of non-veterinary human use. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator: expands criminalization.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 5068: MORE Act

The MORE Act (HR 5068) would remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances, effectively decriminalizing it at the federal level while establishing a new tax on cannabis products. The bill creates an Opportunity Trust Fund that would distribute tax revenues to support communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, including funding for expungement programs, job training, and equitable licensing initiatives for minority business owners. It also includes provisions to prevent discrimination based on cannabis use in federal programs, immigration proceedings, and workplace policies. The bill would require federal courts to expunge non-violent cannabis convictions and establish a process for resentencing individuals currently serving time for such offenses. These provisions aim to address racial disparities in cannabis enforcement and create more equitable opportunities in the legal cannabis industry.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new cannabis tax and allocates revenue to fund expungement, job training, and equitable licensing programs via Opportunity Trust Fund.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates expungement programs and funds community support for minority business owners impacted by cannabis prohibition, directly advancing criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Civil Rights Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7702: Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act

This bill amends federal criminal law to authorize the death penalty for specific sexual abuse offenses against children. It modifies three key provisions (18 U.S.C. §§2241, 2243, and 2244) that currently define aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, and abusive sexual contact involving children, replacing existing prison terms with the option of "death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life." The change applies to both civilian cases under federal law and military cases under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. §920b). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific child sexual abuse crimes, making the death penalty a possible sentencing option.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds death penalty for child rapists, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization of sexual abuse against minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · United States · House Feb 4, 2025

HR 920: Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting Fentanyl Act

HR 920, the *Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting Fentanyl Act*, expands the definition of illegal substances under the Controlled Substances Act to include all fentanyl-related substances and their chemical variations, such as structural modifications to the phenyl, piperidine, or aniline rings. This directly affects individuals and entities producing, distributing, or possessing these substances, including many synthetic opioids. The bill removes mandatory minimum prison sentences for offenses involving these newly classified substances. It aims to more broadly criminalize fentanyl variants by defining them through chemical structure rather than specific compounds. The law amends Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act and Section 401(b)(1)(C) of the Controlled Substances Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl-related offenses, reducing harsh sentencing practices aligned with criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 463: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025

This bill directs $1.4 billion annually (2025-2029) to upgrade U.S. Postal Service mailboxes with high-security models and replace physical "arrow keys" with electronic locks, directly affecting postal carriers and mail collection points. It requires the Attorney General to appoint dedicated prosecutors in each judicial district to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of crimes against postal employees, including assaults or robberies. The bill also mandates the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend guidelines so that assaults or robberies against postal employees are treated with the same severity as assaults against law enforcement officers. These changes aim to enhance physical security, improve legal responses to violence, and increase penalties for attacks on postal workers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates dedicated prosecutors for crimes against postal employees and U.S. Sentencing Commission action, strengthening prosecution and sentencing for specific offenses within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workplace safety by funding security upgrades for postal carriers and establishing dedicated prosecutors to combat crimes against postal employees, directly protecting workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing Violent Crime

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