On the recordMarch 17, 2015
we rise today to speak in favor of the Smarter Sentencing Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that would make targeted reforms to mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. I was proud to join my distinguished colleague from Illinois, Senator Durbin, in introducing this legislation. He and I wish to thank our cosponsors, Senators Jeff Flake, Cory Booker, Ted Cruz, Pat Leahy, Rand Paul, Sheldon Whitehouse, Johnny Isakson, and Chris Coons. I also wish to thank the lead sponsors of the House version of the Smarter Sentencing Act, Congressmen Rauul Labrador and Bobby Scott. It is not often that you see a political coalition such as this one on Capitol Hill. It reflects the importance of an issue whose time has come--reforming our Federal sentencing laws. We come to the floor today to explain what the Smarter Sentencing Act does and to address some common misconceptions about our bill that have been expressed on the Senate floor. I ask my friend and colleague Senator Durbin: What problems does the Smarter Sentencing Act seek to address?
