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A bill to focus limited Federal resources on the most serious offenders.

USA115th CongressS-1933| Senate 
| Updated: 10/5/2017
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (26)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Jeff Flake (Republican)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Al Franken (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Smarter Sentencing Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the safety valve to allow a court to impose a sentence below the statutory mandatory minimum for an otherwise eligible drug offender who has three or fewer (currently, one or fewer) criminal history points. The bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to reduce the mandatory minimum prison term for defendants who manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Specifically, it reduces mandatory minimums: from 10 years to 5 years for a first-time high-level offense (e.g., one kilogram or more of heroin), from 20 years to 10 years for a high-level offense after one prior felony drug offense, from life to 25 years for a high-level offense after two or more prior felony drug offenses, from 5 years to 2 years for a first-time low-level offense (e.g., 100 to 999 grams of heroin), and from 10 years to 5 years for a low-level offense after one prior felony drug offense. Additionally, the bill amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to modify the application of mandatory minimum prison terms for certain defendants who import or export a controlled substance. Specifically, it: makes existing mandatory minimums inapplicable to a defendant who functions as a courier; and establishes new, shorter mandatory minimum prison terms for a courier. The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 applies retroactively to allow a court to reduce the prison term of a convicted crack cocaine offender sentenced before August 3, 2010. The Department of Justice must report on and publish all federal criminal statutory offenses. Specified federal agencies, departments, and entities must report on and publish criminal regulatory offenses that they enforce.
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Timeline
Oct 5, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 5, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • October 5, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 5, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substancesGovernment information and archivesRacial and ethnic relationsU.S. Sentencing Commission

A bill to focus limited Federal resources on the most serious offenders.

USA115th CongressS-1933| Senate 
| Updated: 10/5/2017
Smarter Sentencing Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the safety valve to allow a court to impose a sentence below the statutory mandatory minimum for an otherwise eligible drug offender who has three or fewer (currently, one or fewer) criminal history points. The bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to reduce the mandatory minimum prison term for defendants who manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Specifically, it reduces mandatory minimums: from 10 years to 5 years for a first-time high-level offense (e.g., one kilogram or more of heroin), from 20 years to 10 years for a high-level offense after one prior felony drug offense, from life to 25 years for a high-level offense after two or more prior felony drug offenses, from 5 years to 2 years for a first-time low-level offense (e.g., 100 to 999 grams of heroin), and from 10 years to 5 years for a low-level offense after one prior felony drug offense. Additionally, the bill amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to modify the application of mandatory minimum prison terms for certain defendants who import or export a controlled substance. Specifically, it: makes existing mandatory minimums inapplicable to a defendant who functions as a courier; and establishes new, shorter mandatory minimum prison terms for a courier. The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 applies retroactively to allow a court to reduce the prison term of a convicted crack cocaine offender sentenced before August 3, 2010. The Department of Justice must report on and publish all federal criminal statutory offenses. Specified federal agencies, departments, and entities must report on and publish criminal regulatory offenses that they enforce.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 5, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 5, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • October 5, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 5, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (26)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Jeff Flake (Republican)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Al Franken (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substancesGovernment information and archivesRacial and ethnic relationsU.S. Sentencing Commission