[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2205-H2207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STOP THE SPREAD OF GAMBLING

  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous 
material.)
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of the 
House to an open letter from 220 religious leaders to the President of 
the United States and Congress on the spread of gambling.
  They said, ``We, the undersigned, represent a variety of faith 
perspectives and religious beliefs. We hold different convictions 
regarding many of the most prominent issues of the day, yet we are 
united in our opposition to legalized gambling and we respectfully urge 
Congress to begin to address the devastation that gambling has wrought 
on our children and families and communities as a Nation.''
  And then they go on to talk about the faith community can provide 
countless stories of families shattered by gambling addiction.
  It was a full page ad in Roll Call. I urge Members to look at it and 
see. This Congress ought to begin to deal with this issue of the spread 
of gambling.

An Open Letter From 220 Religious Leaders to the President and Congress 
                       on the Spread of Gambling

       Dear Member of Congress: We, the undersigned, represent a 
     variety of faith perspectives and religious beliefs. We hold 
     differing convictions regarding many of the most prominent 
     issues of our day. Yet we are united in our opposition to 
     legalized gambling. We believe it to be a moral and cultural 
     cancer. Therefore, we respectfully urge Congress to begin to 
     address the devastation that gambling has wrought on our 
     children, families, communities and nation. Consider just the 
     following sampling of gambling's toll on America's citizenry:
       Gambling exploits those with the fewest financial 
     resources, as both a multitude of studies and our own 
     experiences in our individual communities readily confirm. A 
     few months ago we were inundated with glowing press accounts 
     of the Powerball winner from Kentucky who gambled part of his 
     unemployment check to attain the jackpot. How many tens of 
     thousands of others in similar circumstances squandered their 
     meager income chasing this state-sponsored fantasy and wound 
     up without enough money to pay the rent or put food on the 
     table? According to the National Gambling Impact Study 
     Commission (NGISC), individuals earning less than $10,000 per 
     year spend more on lottery tickets every year than any other 
     income group.
       Each of us--and the faith communities we represent--could 
     provide countless stories of families shattered by gambling 
     addiction. We are often the ones forced to pick up the pieces 
     of lives ripped apart by divorce and domestic violence. 
     According to a survey by the NGISC, gambling has been 
     responsible, in whole or in part, for more than 2 million 
     divorces in recent years. Child abuse and neglect are other 
     effluents of gambling's explosive growth. In addition, 
     research indicates that children of gambling addicts do more 
     poorly in school, experience more behavioral problems, and 
     are more susceptible to gambling addiction themselves.
       The gambling boom has made our communities more dangerous 
     places to live. Gambling operations attract crime, and they 
     create new criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens. 
     Studies confirm that more than half of gambling addicts will 
     engage in illegal activities--everything from embezzlement to 
     armed robbery--to fund their compulsion to gamble.
       Gambling has subverted the rightful role of government as 
     protectorate of the people. Casinos in particular have bought 
     favors with politicians at all levels, thus enabling them to 
     spread their poison product into even more communities. In 
     the most recent election, gambling interests lavished $10.9 
     million on candidates and parties at the federal level alone. 
     That does not include the multi-millions spent on lobbying, 
     nor does it take into account that gambling interests have 
     become the single most powerful force in a number of state 
     governments. All of this influence comes at a terrible price 
     that is paid for by the gambling industry's multitude of 
     victims.
       The rapid increase in legal gambling opportunities has 
     created a concomitant boom in the number of gambling addicts. 
     According to the NGISC, more than 15 million Americans 
     struggle with a significant gambling problem--and the 
     repercussions are often profound. Perhaps no single statistic 
     better reveals the depth of despair associated with gambling 
     addiction than this: One in five of those who become addicted 
     to gambling will attempt to take his or her own life.
       Legal gambling operations entice teenagers to delve into 
     this dangerous activity. Many become trapped. Studies show 
     that the rate of gambling problems among adolescents is 
     dramatically higher than that for adults. Hundreds of 
     thousands of teens regularly access casinos, lotteries, and 
     other legal betting venues despite age regulations to the 
     contrary. Further, aggressive and omnipresent gambling 
     advertising campaigns disparage the ethic of work, diligence 
     and study while bombarding teens with the idea that gambling 
     is the means to get rich quick.
       Gambling has become a blight on our nation's cultural 
     landscape. As religious leaders, we see the gambling-induced 
     pain and devastation among many of those who look to us for 
     spiritual guidance. Thus, we stand together not only in our 
     concern, but in our commitment to oppose this predatory and 
     destructive industry. We call on members of Congress to place 
     America's citizens and families ahead of the false promises 
     and hefty political contributions of the gambling industry, 
     and to begin to address this rapidly growing menace to our 
     national welfare.
           Sincerely,
       Dr. Mark Bailey, President, Dallas Theological Seminary.
       The Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., Episcopal Diocese of 
     Pennsylvania.
       Dr. Ron Black, Executive Director, General Association of 
     General Baptists.
       Dr. Bill Bright, Founder and Chairman, Campus Crusade for 
     Christ.
       David Bryant, Chairman, America's National Prayer 
     Committee.
       Commissioner John Busby, National Commander, The Salvation 
     Army.
       Dr. Gaylen J. Byker, President, Calvin College.
       Tony Campolo, Ph.D., President, The Evangelical Association 
     for the Promotion of Education.
       Dr. Judson Carlberg, President, Gordon College.
       Dr. Morris H. Chapman, President & CEO, Southern Baptist 
     Convention, Executive Committee.
       Charles W. Colson, Chairman of the Board, Prison Fellowship 
     Ministries.
       Dr. Clyde Cook, President, Biola University and Talbot 
     School of Theology.
       Kenneth L. Connor, President, Family Research Council.
       Dr. James C. Dobson, President, Focus on the Family.
       David H. Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed 
     Church in North America.
       Dr. Tony Evans, President, The Urban Alternative.
       Reverend Jeff Farmer, President, Open Bible Churches.
       Bruce L. Fister, Lt. Gen. USAF (Ret.), Executive Director, 
     Officers' Christian Fellowship.
       Leighton Ford, President, Leighton Ford Ministries.
       Dr. Stan D. Gaede, President, Westmont College.
       Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Gillespie, President, Princeton 
     Theological Seminary.
       William Graham, Acting Dean, Harvard Divinity School.
       The Rt. Rev. J. Clark Grew II, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of 
     Ohio.
       Bishop Susan W. Hassinger, United Methodist Church, Boston 
     Area.
       Rev. Paul Hirschy, Bishop, Church of the United Brethren in 
     Christ, USA.
       Dr. David W. Holdren, General Superintendent, The Wesleyan 
     Church.
       Clyde M. Hughes, Bishop, International Pentecostal Church 
     of Christ.
       L. Gregory Jones, Dean and Professor of Theology, Duke 
     Divinity School.
       Rev. Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, President, Gordon-Conwell 
     Theological Seminary.
       Rabbi Benjamin Kamenetzky, Executive Director, Yeshiva of 
     South Shore.
       D. James Kennedy, Ph.D., Senior Minister, Coral Ridge 
     Presbyterian Church.
       Clifton Kirkpatrick, State Clerk of the General Assembly, 
     Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
       Dr. Richard Land, President, Ethics and Religious Liberty, 
     Commission of the SBC.
       Rabbi Abraham S. Lefkowitz, Chaplain, Nassau County Police 
     Department.
       Dr. Duane Litfin, President, Wheaton College.

[[Page H2206]]

       Max Lucado, Senior Minister, Oak Hills Church of Christ.
       Bishop Joel N. Martinez, United Methodist Church, San 
     Antonio Area.
       Bishop Felton E. May, United Methodist Church, Washington, 
     D.C. Area.
       Dr. James Merritt, President, Southern Baptist Convention.
       Dr. Kenneth M. Meyer, Chancellor, Trinity Evangelical 
     Divinity School.
       Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, Southern Baptist 
     Theological Seminary.
       Dr. Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Theological 
     Seminary.
       Harold Myra, Executive Chairman, Christianity Today 
     International.
       Father Richard John Neuhaus, President, Institute on 
     Religion and Public Life.
       Dr. John M. Perkins, Chairman, Christian Community 
     Development Association.
       Glenn Plummer, Chairman, National Religious Broadcasters.
       The Rt. Reverend F. Neff Powell, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese 
     of Southern Virginia.
       Dennis Rainey, Executive Director, Family Life.
       Sandy Rios, President, Concerned Women for America.
       Adrian Rogers, Senior Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church.
       Dr. Rex M. Rogers, President, Cornerstone University.
       Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of New York.
       Bruce Ryskamp, President and CEO, Zondervan.
       Dr. Emanuel Sandberg, Executive Director, The Brethren 
     Church.
       Bishop Beverly J. Shamana, United Methodist Church, San 
     Francisco Area.
       Dr. Dal Shealy, President/CEO, Fellowship of Christian 
     Athletes.
       Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action.
       Charles W. Smith, Sr. Pastor, Calvary Chapel.
       Sister Lucille Souza, MSC, Mother Cabrini High School.
       David Stevens, MD, Executive Director, Christian Medical 
     Association.
       Dr. Thomas Trask, General Superintendent, General Council 
     of the Assemblies of God.
       Miroslav Volf, Professor, Yale University.
       Rev. Jim Wallis, Editor-in-Chief, Sojourners.
       Donald E. Wildemon, President American Family Association.
       Dr. Edward W. Williamson, General Superintendent, 
     Evangelical Methodist Church, International Headquarters.
       Jim Winkler, General Secretary, United Methodist Church, 
     General Board of Church and Society.
       Ravi K. Zacharias, President, International Ministries.


   Additional Signatories to the ``Open Letter to the President and 
                               Congress''

       The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, Bishop, Diocese of Quincy 
     (IL).
       Howard Ahmanson, President, Fieldstead & Co.
       Robert T. Allen, President, National Association of 
     Evangelicals--Arizona.
       Dr. A.J. Anglin, President, Trinity Christian College.
       Dr. Jay A. Barber, President, Warner Pacific College.
       Dr. James Barnes, President, Indiana Wesleyan University.
       Rev. Dr. Peter B. Barnes, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian 
     Church (Boulder, CO).
       Dr. Philip J. Baur, Interim President, Bethel Seminary of 
     the East.
       Dr. Timothy F. George, President, Samford University.
       Michael Glenn, Executive Vice President, National Religious 
     Broadcasters Association.
       J. Gary Glosten, Bishop Suffragan, Episcopal Diocese of 
     North Carolina.
       William T. Greig II, Chairperson, Gospel Light Publishing.
       Doris W. Greig, Chairperson, Gospel Light Publications.
       Wayne Grudem, Ph.D., Research Professor of Bible and 
     Theology, Phoenix Seminary, Past President, Evangelical 
     Theological Society.
       Dr. David J. Gyertson, President, Taylor University.
       Pastor Matthew Heard, Senior Pastor, Woodmen Valley Chapel.
       The Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley, Jr., Bishop, Episcopal 
     Diocese of Alabama.
       Bishop Gregory Palmer, Iowa Conference, United Methodist 
     Church.
       Joe E. Pennel, Jr., Bishop, Virginia Conference of United 
     Methodist Church.
       Randy Pope, Pastor, Perimeter Church.
       Tom Prichard, President, Minnesota Family Council.
       Dr. Paul A. Rader, President, Asbury College.
       Stephen W. Reed, General Counsel, Focus on the Family.
       Larry D. Robertson, Ph.D., State Evangelism Specialist, 
     Tennessee Baptist Convention.
       Dr. LeVon Balzer, President, John Brown University.
       The Rt. Reverend David C. Bane, Jr., Bishop, Episcopal 
     Diocese of Southern Virginia.
       Dr. Gayle D. Beebe, President, Spring Arbor University.
       Bobbi Biehl, President, Masterplanning Group International.
       Bishop Bruce Blake, United Methodist Church, Oklahoma Area.
       Richard Bott, Sr., President, Bott Radio Network.
       Robert H. Brindle, Consultant to churches.
       Reverend R.O. and Elsa Prince Broehuizen, Pastor (Holland, 
     MI).
       Rev. Edison G. Brooker, Pastor, Rotonda West Community 
     Church, Chairman, National Association of Evangelicals--
     Florida.
       Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr., United Methodist Church Denver 
     Area.
       Dr. Homer Heater, Jr., President, Capital Bible Seminary.
       Dr. Kenneth S. Hemphill, President, Southwestern Baptist 
     Theological Seminary.
       Donald Paul Hodel, Former Reagan Cabinet Officer.
       Dr. E. Douglas Hodo, President, Houston Baptist University.
       Bishop John L. Hopkins, United Methodist Church, Minnesota 
     Area.
       The Rt. Rev. Barry Howe, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of West 
     Missouri.
       John W. Howe, Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Central 
     Florida.
       Bishop William W. Hutchinson, United Methodist Church, 
     Louisiana Area.
       Bishop Neil L. Irons, United Methodist Church, Harrisburg 
     Area.
       Bishop S. Clifton Ives, United Methodist Church, West 
     Virginia Area.
       Dr. David J. Robinson, President, Houston Graduate School 
     of Theology.
       Dr. William P. Robinson, President, Whitworth College.
       Thomas E. Rogeberg, Executive Vice President, Coral Ridge 
     Ministries Media, Inc.
       Bishop Edward L. Salmon, Diocese of South Carolina.
       Bishop William J. Salmon, Diocese of South Carolina.
       Dr. Rick Scarborough, President, Vision America.
       Rick Schatz, President, & CEO, National Coalition for the 
     Protection of Children and Families.
       Reverend Dale Schlafer, President, and Founder, Center for 
     World Revival and Awakening.
       Alan E. Sears, President,, Alliance Defense Fund.
       Don Schmierer, Program Officer, Fieldstead & Company.
       Dr. George K. Brushaber, President, Bethel College and 
     Seminary.
       Dr. Jerry Cain, President, Judson College.
       Bishop Kenneth L. Carder, United Methodist Church, 
     Mississippi Area.
       Dr. John L. Carson, President, Erskine College.
       Lt. Gen. Patrick P. Caruana (USAF Ret.), Board Member, 
     Focus on the Family.
       Dr. Daniel Chamberlain, President, Houghton College.
       Bishop Ray W. Chamberlain Jr., United Methodist Church, 
     Houston Area.
       Bishop Ben R. Chamness, Central Texas Conference of the 
     United Methodist Church.
       Dr. Bryan Chapell, President, Covenant Theological 
     Seminary.
       Rev. Clifford R. Christensen, Conference Minister 
     Conservative, Congregational Christian Conference.
       Glen A. Land, Director of Missions and Evangelism, 
     Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention.
       Dr. Luciano Jaramillo, IBS-Latin America, Executive 
     Director, IBS-US, Hispanic Ministries Director.
       The Rt. Rev. Stephen H. Jecko, Diocese of Florida.
       Jonathan D. Keaton, Bishop, East Ohio Conference of the 
     United Methodist Church.
       Dr. Keith P. Keeran, President, Kentucky Christian College.
       Dr. Kirby Nelson Keller, President, Evangelical School of 
     Theology.
       Jay L. Kesler, Chancellor, Taylor University.
       Bishop Hae-Jong Kim, United Methodist Church, Pittsburgh 
     Area.
       Bishop James R. King Jr., United Methodist Church, 
     Louisville Area.
       Jerry R. Kirk, Chairman, National Coalition for the 
     Protection of Children and Families.
       James M. Kushiner, Executive Director, Fellowship of St. 
     James.
       Max L. Staekhouse, Professor of Christian Ethics, Princeton 
     Theological Seminary.
       The Rt. Reverend John-David Mercer Schofield, Bishop, 
     Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, Central Third of 
     California.
       Bishop Ann B. Sherer, United Methodist Church, Missouri 
     Area.
       Rt. Rev. Richard L. Shimpfky, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of 
     El Camino Real.
       Randy D. Singer, Executive Vice President, North American 
     Mission Board, SBC.
       Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, United Methodist Church, Chicago 
     Area.
       Tim Stafford, Senior Writer, Christianity Today Magazine.
       James R. Stuck, Bishop, Indiana-Kentucky Synod Evangelical 
     Lutheran Church in America.
       Dr. Lee Snyder, President, Bluffton College.
       Dr. Richard L. Spindle, President, MidAmerica Nazarene 
     University.
       Peter Sprigg, Senior Director of Culture Studies, Family 
     Research Council.
       David E. Clippard, Associate Executive Director, Baptist 
     General Convention of Oklahoma.
       Charles W. Colson, Chairman of the Board Prison Fellowship 
     Ministries--Washington, D.C.
       Dr. Paul R. Corts, President, Palm Beach Atlantic College.
       Dr. William Crothers, President, Northeastern Seminary.
       Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, III, Bishop, Diocese of East 
     Carolina.
       Glenn DeMots, President, Bethany Christian Services.
       Bishop William W. Dew Jr., United Methodist Church, 
     Phoenix, Area.

[[Page H2207]]

       Dr. Dennis H. Dirks, Dean, Talbot School of Theology at 
     Biola University.
       Dr. Davis S. Dockery, President, Union University.
       Dr. Joseph L. Lapp, President, Eastern Mennonite 
     University.
       The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Lee, Jr., Bishop, Diocese of Western 
     Michigan.
       Edwin M. Leidel, Bishop of Eastern Michigan.
       Dr. Daniel Lockwood, President, Multinomah Biblical 
     Seminary.
       Ernest S. Lyght, Bishop, The New York Annual Conference, 
     The United Methodist Church.
       Dr. Kevin Mannoia, Dean, C.P. Haggard School of Theology, 
     Azusa Pacific University.
       Colby M. May, Esq., Director, Office of Government Affairs, 
     American Center for Law and Justice.
       Dr. Kenneth M. Meyer, Chancellor, Trinity Evangelical 
     Divinity School.
       Bishop Rodney R. Michel, Garden City, NY.
       Dr. Vinson Synan, Dean, School of Divinity, Regent 
     University.
       Dr. C. Pat Taylor, President, Southwest Baptist College.
       The Rt. Reverend Douglas E. Theuner, Bishop, Episcopal 
     Diocese of New Hampshire.
       Dr. David Tiede, President, Luther Seminary.
       Dr. Al Truesdale, Interim President, Eastern Nazarene 
     College.
       Paul Tshimihamba, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian 
     Church (Berkeley, CA).
       Rt. Reverend Franklin D. Turner, Bishop Suffragan of 
     Pennsylvania.
       Forrest L. Turpen, Executive Director, Christian Educators 
     Association International.
       John Tusant, Executive Director, The Greater Spokane 
     Association of Evangelicals.
       The Reverend David A. Donges, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran 
     Church in America.
       Dr. Larry R. Donnithorne, President, Colorado Christian 
     University.
       Dr. G. Blair Dowden, President, Huntington College.
       Dr. David E. Draper, President, Winebrenner Theological 
     Seminary.
       Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop, West Virginia-Western Maryland 
     Synod.
       Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam, President, Asbury Theological 
     Seminary.
       Dr. Phillip W. Eaton, President, Seattle Pacific 
     University.
       Bishop Marion Edwards, United Methodist Church, Raleigh 
     Area.
       Dr. Tom Elliff, Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church (Del 
     City, OK).
       Bernard J. Evans, General Chairman, ELIM Fellowship.
       Bishop Lee M. Miller, Upstate New York, SYNOD/ELCA.
       State Senator Patricia Miller (IN), The Confessing Movement 
     within the United Methodist Church.
       Bishop Rhymes H. Moncure, United Methodist Church, Nebraska 
     Area.
       Dr. Royce Money, President, Abilene Christian University.
       Dr. Charles W. Moore, President, Northern Baptist 
     Theological Seminary.
       The Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, Retired Bishop, Episcopal Diocese 
     of New York.
       Bishop William W. Morris, United Methodist Church, 
     Nashville Area.
       Susan Morrison, Bishop, United Methodist Church, Albany, 
     New York Episcopal Area.
       Rev. Duane Motley, President, New Yorker's Family Research 
     Foundation, Inc.
       Dr. Bruce Murphy, President, Northwestern College in Iowa.
       Leslee J. Unruh, Founder and President National Abstinence 
     Clearinghouse.
       Dr. Jon Wallace, President, Azusa Pacific University.
       Dr. Charles Wasielewski Sr., International Moderator, 
     American Evangelical Christian Churches.
       Peter D. Weaver, Bishop, The United Methodist Church, 
     Philadelphia Episcopal Area.
       Dr. C. Robert Wetzel, Emmanuel School of Religion.
       Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, United Methodist Church, 
     Florida Area.
       Dr. John H. White, President, Geneva College.
       Bishop Woodie W. White, United Methodist Church, Indiana 
     Area.
       Bishop D. Max Whitfield, United Methodist Church, Northwest 
     Texas/New Mexico Area.
       Donald E. Wildmon, President, American Family Association.
       Bishop Robert E. Fannin, North Alabama Annual Conference, 
     The United Methodist Church.
       Janet Folger, National Director, Center for Reclaiming 
     America.
       Richard J. Foss, Bishop, Fargo, ND.
       Jeffrey R. Funk, Executive Director, Hospital Chaplains' 
     Ministry of America (HCMA).
       Dr. Ira Gallaway, Institute of Religion and Democracy.
       Bishop Elias Galvan, The United Methodist Church, Seattle, 
     WA.
       Albert Mutti, Bishop, United Methodist Church, Kansas 
     Episcopal Area.
       David A. Noebel, President, Summit Ministries.
       Bishop Alfred L. Norris, United Methodist Church, Houston 
     Area.
       Patrick Ortega, News & Public Affairs Director, Radio Nueva 
     Vida Network.
       Bishop Bruce R. Ough, United Methodist Church, Ohio West 
     Area.
       Dr. Roger Parrott, President, Bellhaven College.
       Dr. G. Craig Williford, President, Denver Seminary.
       Sid Wright, Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Campus Crusade.
       Michael Youssef, Ph.D., President, Leading The Way Radio 
     and Television.
       Dr. Carl E. Zylstra, President, Dordt College.

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