FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1997                            (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

  WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO WELCOME
              SENTENCING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 
   TO CLOSE GAP IN PENALTIES FOR CRACK VERSUS POWDER COCAINE; 
     LOOK FORWARD TO DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRESIDENT


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- White House National Drug Policy
Director Barry McCaffrey and Attorney General Janet Reno issued
the following statement today in response to the U.S. Sentencing
Commission's report calling for closing the gap in penalties for
crack versus powder cocaine.

     "We welcome the Sentencing Commission's report issued today
recommending that crack and powder cocaine sentences should be
brought closer together.

     "We are convinced that justice is served best and respected
most when sentences are made fair for all.  The Sentencing
Commission report moves us in the right direction.

     "We must work toward targeting federal enforcement resources
where they can do the most good -- namely, prosecuting and
sentencing high-level drug trafficking organizations and mid-
level dealers.  We are troubled that the current penalty
structure does not adequately serve that end and, as today's
report indicates, appears to have a disproportionate racial
impact.

     "We look forward to working together to develop
recommendations for the President to consider for presentation to
Congress."

                              # # #
97-182