[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 108 (Monday, July 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORT H.R. 497, NATIONAL GAMBLING IMPACT AND POLICY COMMISSION ACT

  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, shortly we will be bringing up a very 
important piece of legislation that will be setting up a national 
commission to study the impact of gambling which is running rampant in 
the country. Quite frankly the country is turning into one gambling 
casino as gambling spreads and spreads and spreads. As gambling 
proliferates in casinos on riverboats, on Indian reservations, dog and 
horse tracks and elsewhere, problems such as crime, political 
corruption, cannibalization of existing businesses, gambling addiction, 
family breakups, and suicides are growing, which is an unfortunate 
consequence.
  This legislation we are about to take up will create an unbiased, 
bipartisan nine-member commission to finally take a comprehensive look 
at these problems.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to make sure all the 
Members know that we have finally been able to bring this bill to 
fruition. Last Wednesday, July 17, the full Senate passed by unanimous 
consent H.R. 497 with an amendment and, despite public pronouncements 
of the gambling industry in support of an unbiased study, tremendous 
lobbying pressure was brought to bear on Senators to kill or gut this 
bill. It is a tribute to this deliberative body that such pressures, 
which clearly represented the opposition of a small but powerful 
minority, were not able to thwart the will of the vast majority of 
Congress and the American people.
  In the process, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Senate Majority Leader 
Trent Lott who, notwithstanding some concerns he had about the 
legislation, exerted great leadership in bringing H.R. 497 to a vote. 
He is a man of his word, of honor and integrity.

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