Senate approves historic, bipartisan prison sentencing reform bill

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 measurethis year.

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