[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM GAMBLING ACT OF 2009

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                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce, 
along with Representatives Lee Terry and Frank Wolf, the Comprehensive 
Problem Gambling Act of 2009, which would for the first time devote 
federal resources toward the prevention and treatment of problem and 
pathological gambling.
  According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 
6-9 million American adults meet the criteria for a gambling problem, 
which includes gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or 
damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. Over the past decade, 
gaming and gambling has grown in the United States and many states have 
expanded legalized gaming, including regulated casino-style games and 
lotteries. The recent economic downturn only compounds this situation 
as many states consider relaxing gaming laws in an effort to raise 
state revenues.
  At the same time, the federal government and most states have devoted 
very little, if any, resources to the prevention and treatment of 
compulsive gambling. Problem gambling can destroy a person's career and 
financial standing, disrupt marriages and personal relationships, and 
encourage participation in criminal activity. Currently, no federal 
agency has responsibility for coordinating efforts to treat problem 
gambling.
  The Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009 would begin to address 
this deficiency by designating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMSHA) as the lead agency on problem 
gambling, allowing them to coordinate Federal action. The legislation 
would allow SAMSHA to conduct research, develop guidelines for 
effective prevention and treatment programs, and provide assistance for 
community-based services. In addition, this legislation would authorize 
annual appropriations of $200,000 for a coordinated public awareness 
campaign, $4 million for an advisory commission to research problem 
gambling, and $10 million for grants to state, local, and tribal 
governments and non-profit organizations to provide treatment and 
prevention programs.
  Legal gambling revenue, excluding most sports betting, poker and 
Internet gambling, has grown into an approximately $100 billion a year 
industry. In 2006, the IRS reported that individuals claimed $27.902 
billion in gambling winnings on their income tax returns, resulting in 
$5.3 billion in federal tax revenue. I feel the responsible action is 
to invest a modest amount (the five-year cost of this bill is less than 
one-fourth of 1 percent of the yearly federal tax revenues from 
gambling) in prevention and treatment efforts.
  While there may be disagreement over the degree to which gambling 
should be regulated, we should all be able to support efforts to 
minimize the negative effects of problem gambling. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to enact this important legislation.

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