The Senate Tuesday approved an historic and bipartisan reform of the criminal justice system that aims to reduce the sentences of nonviolent offenders and cut recidivism rates by helping prisoners productively rejoin society.
With the House of Representatives almost certain to pass the bill, the Senate vote sets up a major legislative victory for President Trump — who has promised to sign it — as he approaches the halfway point of his four-year term.
The legislation, with the help of the White House, won an easy Senate majority despite conservative GOP opponents and the early reluctance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who had just weeks ago downplayed the likelihood of taking up the measure this year.
The Senate approved the bill in a 87-12 vote. Among the “no” votes was a moderate Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. McConnell, who initially fought the bill, voted yes.
The measure now heads for the House, where Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., pledged he’ll clear it for Trump’s signature as early as this week.
The Senate spent about a day debating the measure, and lawmakers defeated several GOP amendments that threatened to sink the bill by drawing opposition from Democrats.
The most significant threat came from Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a staunch opponent of the legislation, and John Kennedy, R-La.
They introduced an amendment that would exclude from the legislation those who have committed crimes of violence and sexual offenses including carjacking, robbery, hate crimes, and coercing a minor into sexual activity. Cotton said, without his language, people would be less safe.
“While the bill has marginally improved from earlier versions, I’m disappointed my amendments to exclude child molesters from early release and to protect victims’ rights were not adopted,” he said. “I also remain concerned that reducing sentences for drug traffickers and violent felons is a threat to public safety.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, warned on the Senate floor that the Cotton amendment, if passed, would destroy the coalition of Democrats and Republicans needed to pass it.
“Let’s see if we can keep our bipartisan coalition together to pass a bill that the president said he’s ready to sign,” Grassley said.
Grassley said Cotton’s amendment is unnecessary because the bill, as written, aims to help low-level offenders and “renders dangerous and violent criminals ineligible for the benefits.” It was soundly defeated in a 37-62 vote.
Senators then voted 33-66 to defeat a provision offered by Cotton and Kennedy that would require a quarterly report on prisoners granted early release as well as notification of the victims of their crimes. The report would have included data on inmates released, the crimes they committed and whether they have been rearrested.
“The objective is transparency,” Kennedy said.
Grassley said victims are already notified when prisoners are released. He said the Kennedy amendment might allow bias and human error to block the release of a prisoner entitled to freedom under the legislation.
Senators accepted by unanimous consent last-minute changes by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and James Lankford, R-Okla., excluding those convicted of certain violent offenses from early release and allowing religious groups to participate in anti-recidivism programs.
[Opinion: Trump is right to embrace criminal justice reform]
