[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4879-H4880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         INTERNET GAMBLING BILL

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H4880]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the offshore casino industry would like us to 
think that Internet gambling is a harmless activity that can be tamed 
by Federal regulation. The problem is, it cannot happen.
  Proponents of regulation are selling it because it sounds reasonable. 
Their arguments for regulation are nothing but a smoke screen to cover 
up what is already illegal activity. They seem to be more interested in 
regulating around the law than taking legitimate action to stop illegal 
activity.
  That is the bottom line. Internet gambling is illegal according to 
the Department of Justice and the FBI. However, there is no effective 
way to regulate it. The only way to stop it is to cut off the financial 
flow through the legal Internet casino industry, and that is what H.R. 
2143 does.
  H.R. 2143 does not define what is legal and what is illegal. It 
simply ensures that law enforcement has the means to stop illegal 
activity. It is time to pass the bill.

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