washington criminal justice bill await vote u.s. senate would reduce federal prison cost 722 million next 10 years release thousands federal prisoners early congressional forecasters say wednesday federal benefit receive newly release prisoners would increase direct spend 251 million reduce revenues million period accord estimate u.s. congressional budget office new save estimate buoy supporters bipartisan measure low mandatory minimum sentence non-violent federal drug offenders central president barack obama efforts overhaul country federal criminal justice system reduce prison overcrowd obligation change way think incarceration today cbo report show fiscal obligation well say bill co-author u.s. senators charles grassley republican iowa richard durbin democrat illinois statement bill revise last month exclude prisoners convict violent crimes effort garner support among conservatives still prospect move full senate vote remain unclear key republican senators reluctant support bill include change mens rea laws govern criminal intent parallel sentence reform await floor vote u.s. house representatives white house study last month find current sentence incarceration policies strain state budget take people work force pull families apart reduce crime boost u.s. economy refiles fix misspell mens rea sixth paragraph congress forecasters see major save sentence reform