According to this 3/2/10 NYT Editorial,
The federal law that mandates harsher prison terms for people arrested with crack cocaine than for those caught with cocaine powder is scientifically and morally indefensible. Bills to end the disparity are pending in both the House and Senate. Democrats who worry about being pegged as “soft on crime” will have to find their backbones and push the legislation through.
In the House, a bill that ends the disparity has been voted out of committee but has yet to go to the floor. The Senate bill is having trouble attracting support, including from Democrats. It is time to finally put aside crack myths and hysteria. This isn’t a question of being soft on crime. It is an issue of fairness and sound public policy.