[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)] [House] [Pages H2208-H2211] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] {time} 1600 RELIGIOUS LEADERS OPPOSE THE SPREAD OF GAMBLING The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Brown of South Carolina). Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, this week 220 religious leaders across the spectrum signed an open letter to this Congress and to the Bush administration calling on the Nation's leaders to oppose the further spread of gambling. The signers are across the spectrum of the religious views in this country. It is time, Mr. Speaker, for the country to address the devastation that gambling has wrought on our children, our families, communities and Nation, is what they wrote. Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize the significance of this letter. This is not a message from political leaders, this is not a message from business or labor, this is not a message from many of the usual interest groups that express their views here every day. Rather, it is a message from our Nation's moral and spiritual leaders. Not often do so many religious leaders from such broad perspectives speak out on any issue. But when they do, it is noteworthy. Recall the issues of slavery, the civil rights movement, elderly and child poverty, the dangers of communism, South African apartheid, famine and humanitarian issues throughout the world. All these issues commanded the attention of the Nation's spiritual leaders. The incredible spread of gambling is also a call to arms for our Nation's faith communities. Why are so many in the religious community so alarmed? Legalized gambling, once relegated to a few areas of the country, continues to spread at an alarming rate, so quickly that soon almost every American will be within driving distance of a casino. Gambling expansion has swept the Nation, with revenues jumping from about $1 billion in 1980 to well over $50 billion today. That means Americans lose on average of $137 million every day of the year from gambling. Let me say that again: Americans lose on the average $137 million every day of the year from gambling. In short, while the explosion of various forms of gambling across America has generated revenue for States and for the gambling industry, it has left in its wake human misery that is only now beginning to be understood. This misery ends up costing the States more than they receive and creates a vicious cycle as the need for social services dramatically increases. Whether a State lottery, a casino or a ``cruise to nowhere,'' gambling is a losing bet for funding legitimate social needs. [[Page H2209]] Yet in State after State the gambling industry pours money into the coffers of political campaigns from both political parties in hopes of advancing their interests. The fact that gambling has not spread further is a tribute to the tireless efforts of a few grass roots activists in the States. These citizen advocacy efforts, often outspent by rates of 20 to 1, have held a levy against an even greater encroachment by the gambling industry into every community in America. But the gambling industry has another card up its sleeve and has used it very effectively in the last decade. Instead of going through the normal legislative channels, they have ever increasingly circumvented State grass roots resistance by going through our Nation's Native Americans. Indian casinos are the fastest growing form of gambling today. Our Federal policy toward our Nation's first citizens is in a terrible state. A few tribes have done very well, and yet nearly 80 percent of all Native Americans receive nothing from gambling. Let me repeat: 80 percent receive nothing from gambling. The vast majority live in areas where casinos are simply not viable. What kind of Federal policy rewards a few people living in population centers while the rest languish? There is a casino that operates in California that actually has one adult member of the tribe, one member, and thousands of Native Americans live in our Great Plains States and receive nothing. Defenders of Indian gambling never seem to talk about this disparity. What has the spread of gambling meant for the country? Some 15.4 million Americans are already suffering from problem and pathological gambling, also called gambling addiction, which is devastating to the individuals and his or her family. The effects of this addiction are wide ranging and often impact many who are not at all involved with gambling. It is not unusual for a gambling addict to end up in bankruptcy, with a broken family, and facing criminal charges from his or her employer. Youth introduced early to gambling are particularly at a high risk for gambling addiction. Of the over 15 million Americans suffering from problem gambling disorders, over half, 7.9 million, are adolescents. There is a tremendous need for prevention. Unfortunately, there is no money really for prevention. Soon, gambling will be in every home in America with the Internet connection. More than 850 Internet gambling sites worldwide had revenues in 1999 of $1.67 billion, up more than 80 percent from 1998, according to Christiansen Capital Advisors, who track the industry. Revenues are expected to top $3 billion by 2002, and the Congress and the administration have done nothing. I would hope this Congress and this administration would reflect on the seriousness of this issue. This is not about a person making a choice to travel to Las Vegas or Atlantic City and gamble for recreation. The reality is that such a choice takes planning and some time. As gambling spreads throughout the Nation, there is less planning, less time, and much more availability for potential addicts to gamble. With all this hard evidence, our Nation's religious leaders have been moved to forcibly speak out. They have demanded that we ``place American citizens and families ahead of false promises and hefty political contributions of the gambling industry and begin to address this rapidly growing menace to our national welfare.'' Who will speak out against the spread of gambling, the crime, the corruption, the family breakdown, the suicide the bankruptcy, the exploitation of the poor? Our Nation's religious leaders have spoken out. I would hope that Congress would speak out. And I would say to the Bush administration, your silence on this issue is becoming deafening. So the Bush administration should also speak out. For the poor, the young, the elderly, the addicts, the families of America, hopefully, maybe just someone, someone will listen and speak out. Mr. Speaker, I provide for the Record a copy of the letter signed by these 220 religious leaders and all their names. 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. [[Page H2210]] 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. 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. [[Page H2211]] 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. 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. ____________________