NEW ORLEANS - Attorney General Loretta Lynch is urging the Senate to pass criminal justice reform legislation that, among other things, allows judges to give lesser sentences than current federal mandatory minimums.

In remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday in New Orleans, Lynch urged passage of the reform bill already approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill has broad support but one of its top advocates, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, has been lowering expectations for passage this year.

The legislation also would eliminate mandatory life sentences for three-time, nonviolent drug offenders.

Lynch spoke to members of the American Correctional Association. She also urged Congress to act on newly released proposals by the bipartisan Charles Colson task force. And she discussed the Obama administration's plans to reduce the use of solitary confinement.