level and low-level drug offenders in order to prop-
erly reauthorize Federal drug enforcement programs. 
(18) Congress has an obligation to taxpayers to 
use sentencing policies that are cost-effective and in-
crease public safety, in addition to establishing a 
criminal justice system that is fair, efficient and pro-
vides just sentences for offenders. Mandatory sen-
tences have not been conclusively shown to reduce 
recidivism or deter crime. 
(19) Prisons are important and expensive; the 
limited resources in the Federal criminal justice sys-
tem should be used to protect society by incapaci-
tating dangerous and violent offenders who pose a 
threat to public safety. The Federal judiciary has 
the expertise and is in the best position to sentence 
each offender and determine who should be sent to 
Federal prisons and the amount of time each of-
fender should serve. 
SEC. 3. APPROVAL OF CERTAIN PROSECUTIONS BY ATTOR-
NEY GENERAL. 
A Federal prosecution for an offense under the Con-
trolled Substances Act, the Controlled Substances Import 
and Export Act, or for any conspiracy to commit such an 
offense, where the offense involves the illegal distribution 
or possession of a controlled substance in an amount less 
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than that amount specified as a minimum for an offense 
under section 401(b)(1)(A) of the Controlled Substances 
Act (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A)) or, in the case of any sub-
stance containing cocaine or cocaine base, in an amount 
less than 500 grams, shall not be commenced without the 
prior written approval of the Attorney General. 
SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SENTENCING PROVI-
SIONS. 
(a) SECTION 404.—Section 404(a) of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘not less than 15 days but’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘not less than 90 days but’’; 
and 
(3) by striking the sentence beginning ‘‘The im-
position or execution of a minimum sentence’’. 
(b) SECTION 401.—Section 401(b) of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘which may not be less 
than 10 years and or more than’’ and inserting 
‘‘for any term of years or for’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘and if death’’ the first 
place it appears and all that follows through 
‘‘20 years or more than life’’ the first place it 
appears; 
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(C) by striking ‘‘which may not be less 
than 20 years and not more than life imprison-
ment’’ and inserting ‘‘for any term of years or 
for life’’; 
(D) by inserting ‘‘imprisonment for any 
term of years or’’ after ‘‘if death or serious bod-
ily injury results from the use of such substance 
shall be sentenced to’’; 
(E) by striking the sentence beginning ‘‘If 
any person commits a violation of this subpara-
graph’’; and 
(F) by striking the sentence beginning 
‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law’’ 
and the sentence beginning ‘‘No person sen-
tenced’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1)(B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘which may not be less 
than 5 years and’’ and inserting ‘‘for’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘not less than 20 years or 
more than’’ and inserting ‘‘for any term of 
years or to’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘which may not be less 
than 10 years and more than’’ and inserting 
‘‘for any term of years or for’’; 
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(D) by inserting ‘‘imprisonment for any 
term of years or to’’ after ‘‘if death or serious 
bodily injury results from the use of such sub-
stance shall be sentenced to’’; and 
(E) by striking the sentence beginning 
‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law’’. 
(c) SECTION 1010.—Section 1010(b) of the Con-
trolled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 
960(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘of not less than 10 years 
and not more than’’ and inserting ‘‘for any 
term of years or for’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘and if death’’ the first 
place it appears and all that follows through 
‘‘20 years and not more than life’’ the first 
place it appears; 
(C) by striking ‘‘of not less than 20 years 
and not more than life imprisonment’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for any term of years or for life’’; 
(D) by inserting ‘‘imprisonment for any 
term of years or to’’ after ‘‘if death or serious 
bodily injury results from the use of such sub-
stance shall be sentenced to’’; and 
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(E) by striking the sentence beginning 
‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘not less than 5 years 
and’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘of not less than twenty 
years and not more than’’ and inserting ‘‘for 
any term of years or for’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘of not less than 10 years 
and not more than’’ and inserting ‘‘for any 
term of years or to’’; 
(D) by inserting ‘‘imprisonment for any 
term of years or to’’ after ‘‘if death or serious 
bodily injury results from the use of such sub-
stance shall be sentenced to’’; and 
(E) by striking the sentence beginning 
‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law’’. 
(d) SECTION 418.—Section 418 of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 859) is amended by striking 
the sentence beginning ‘‘Except to the extent’’ each place 
it appears and by striking the sentence beginning ‘‘The 
mandatory minimum’’. 
(e) SECTION 419.—Section 419 of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 860) is amended by striking 
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the sentence beginning ‘‘Except to the extent’’ each place 
it appears and by striking the sentence beginning ‘‘The 
mandatory minimum’’. 
(f) SECTION 420.—Section 420 of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 861) is amended— 
(1) in each of subsections (b) and (c), by strik-
ing the sentence beginning ‘‘Except to the extent’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (e); and 
(3) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘, (c), and (e)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and (c)’’. 
Æ 
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