Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Prison Reform Bill

December 19, 2018 News, Politics

Mother Jones reports:

In a rare bipartisan victory, the Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday night that seeks to reduce the federal prison population. The First Step Act was approved in an 87-12 vote and will now go to the House, where it is expected to pass.

Among the bill’s biggest impacts is the measure to retroactively reduce a major disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences, allowing roughly 2,600 prisoners to petition for quicker release, the majority of them people of color.

The bill would also curb some mandatory minimum sentences, reducing the federal three-strikes penalty for drug felonies from life in prison to 25 years.

We did it. We passed real bipartisan criminal justice reform. Thanks to the hard work of my colleagues, American families will be stronger and our communities will be safer. This is a huge win for America and President @realDonaldTrump.

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 19, 2018

After yrs of bipartisan work w Sens Durbin & Lee The First Step Act passed the Senate 2night w a big bipartisan victory 87-12 vote Historic criminal justice reform happens once in a generation Now on its way 2 House & Pres Trump waiting w a pen to sign

— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) December 19, 2018

America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes. Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018

....This will keep our communities safer, and provide hope and a second chance, to those who earn it. In addition to everything else, billions of dollars will be saved. I look forward to signing this into law!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018