,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #cii  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the
 ,,united ,,states  ,february #g1       
#bjai,mr4 ,paul 7for himself and ,mr4   
,leahy7 introduced the following bill2  
which was read twice and referred to the
 ,committee on the ,judiciary  ,a ,,bill
  ,to amend title #ah1 ,united ,states  
,code1 to prevent unjust and irrational 
criminal punishments4  #a4 ,short title 
,this ,act may be cited as the ,justice 
,safety ,valve ,act of #bjai4  #b4      
,authority to impose a sentence below a 
statutory minimum ,section #ceec of     
title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended--  7#a7 by redesignating        
subsection 7g7 as subsection 7h72 and   
7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7f7  
the following3  7g7 ,authority ,to      
impose a sentence below a statutory     
minimum ,to prevent an unjust sentence  
7#a7 ,general rule ,notwithstanding any 
provision of law other than this        
subsection1 the court may impose a      
sentence below a statutory minimum if   

the court finds that it is necessary to 
do so in order to avoid violating the   
requirements of subsection 7a74  7#b7   
,court to give parties notice ,before   
imposing a sentence under paragraph     
7#a71 the court shall give the parties  
reasonable notice of the court's intent 
to do so and an opportunity to respond4 
7#c7 ,statement in writing of factors   
,the court shall state1 in the written  
statement of reasons1 the factors under 
subsection 7a7 that require imposition  
of a sentence below the statutory       
minimum4  7#d7 ,appeal rights not       
limited ,this subsection does not limit 
any right to appeal that would otherwise
 exist in its absence4  4