,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cii  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #g1 #bjai,mr4 
,paul 7= himself & ,mr4 ,leahy7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title    
#ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to prev5t     
unju/ & irrational crim9al puni%m5ts4   
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,ju/ice ,safety ,valve ,act ( #bjai4  
#b4 ,au?ority to impose a s5t5ce bel[ a 
/atutory m9imum ,section #ceec ( title  
#ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--    
7#a7 by r$esignat+ subsection 7g7 z     
subsection 7h72 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft]  
subsection 7f7 ! foll[+3  7g7 ,au?ority 
,to impose a s5t5ce bel[ a /atutory     
m9imum ,to prev5t an unju/ s5t5ce  7#a7 
,g5]al rule ,not)/&+ any provision ( law
 o!r ?an ?is subsection1 ! c\rt may     
impose a s5t5ce bel[ a /atutory m9imum  
if ! c\rt f9ds t x is necess>y to d s 9 
ord] to avoid violat+ ! requirem5ts (   
subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,c\rt to give     

p>ties notice ,be=e impos+ a s5t5ce "u  
p>agraph 7#a71 ! c\rt %all give ! p>ties
 reasonable notice ( ! c\rt's int5t to d
 s & an opportunity to respond4  7#c7   
,/atem5t 9 writ+ ( factors ,! c\rt %all 
/ate1 9 ! writt5 /atem5t ( reasons1 !   
factors "u subsection 7a7 t require     
imposition ( a s5t5ce bel[ ! /atutory   
m9imum4  7#d7 ,appeal rights n limit$   
,?is subsection does n limit any "r to  
appeal t w\ld o!rwise exi/ 9 its abs5ce4
  4