[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4219-S4220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Casey, and Mr. 
        Brown of Ohio):
  S. 3418. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
specifically include, in programs of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, programs to research, prevent, and 
address the harmful consequences of pathological and other problem 
gambling, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the Comprehensive 
Problem Gambling Act, a bill I introduced just moments ago with Senator 
Mike Johanns. This bill would establish and implement programs targeted 
at preventing, treating, and researching problem gambling.
  Currently, the Federal Government provides millions of dollars to 
treat alcohol and drug addiction, but does not dedicate resources to 
treat the effects of problem gambling, which can destroy a person's 
career and financial standing, disrupt marriages and personal 
relationships, and encourage participation in criminal activity.
  Over the past decade, gaming and gambling has grown significantly in 
the United States. According to the National Council on Problem 
Gambling, approximately 6 to 9 million American adults are problem 
gamblers.
  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. In fact, no Federal agency is currently 
responsible for coordinating efforts for treatment and prevention. 
Prevention and treatment programs have been proven to save money by 
decreasing the severity and prevalence of problem gambling, but cash-
strapped states are struggling just to maintain funding for pre-
existing programs.
  I believe that if State governments benefit from gambling and lottery 
proceeds, then those governments have an obligation to provide 
assistance to those suffering from a gambling addiction. I am proud 
that the State of Oregon understands this concept and has one of the 
most comprehensive treatment systems in the country.
  Through Oregon's Gambling Treatment Fund, one percent of Oregon 
Lottery revenues are transferred to the Oregon Department of Human 
Services for the administration of problem gambling services. However, 
decreasing lottery revenues has resulted in reduced treatment dollars.
  I'd like to share the story of one of my constituents. For Toni, 
gambling started out as a fun trip to Reno or Las Vegas. She began 
playing video poker on occasion, and when she ran out of money, she 
would simply go home. But then the casinos brought in ATM machines, and 
she no longer had to leave the facility to access money. She could stay 
for hours, and did. Gambling quickly went from being a fun activity to 
an escape from problems and stresses in her life.
  Before long, gambling had consumed Toni's life. She gambled away her 
life savings and went through credit card after credit card, racking up 
the cash advance limits and borrowing money from family members to pay 
it off. She tried to quit numerous times, but, as she describes it, the 
urge to gamble was much stronger than she was. Eventually, she couldn't 
do it anymore. She couldn't stop thinking about how she was going to 
get her next ``fix''. She ``felt about as low as you can go.'' She knew 
she had to get help.
  Toni sought treatment in May 2009, and will soon reach the one year 
goal she set with her counselor to be gambling-free. However, she 
continues to face the long-term impacts of her gambling. Toni and her 
family live paycheck to paycheck and she worries that the debt she has 
accrued could cause her family to lose their house if the bank decides 
to raise interest on their mortgage. But Toni sees hope in her future 
because she had access to treatment and critical support services. 
While Toni has been able to start her own recovery, thousands of 
individuals across the country continue to struggle with their gambling 
addictions because there are so few prevention and treatment resources 
in place.
  Unfortunately, the lack of education and research surrounding this 
issue has made it difficult to allot the appropriate resources to 
address these problems. The Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act would 
provide $14.2 million in competitive grants annually for 5 years to 
non-profits, universities, state agencies, and tribal governments

[[Page S4220]]

for prevention, research, and treatment of problem gambling.
  Recent studies show conclusively that every $1 spent on treatment 
saves more than $2 in social costs. This legislation is a minimal 
investment with life-changing returns.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Toni and the countless 
other individuals who struggle without supports by cosponsoring the 
Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2010.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3418

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Problem 
     Gambling Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Problem gambling is a public health disorder 
     characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, loss 
     of control, restlessness or irritability when attempting to 
     stop gambling, and continuation of the gambling behavior in 
     spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.
       (2) Over 6,000,000 adults met criteria for a gambling 
     problem last year.
       (3) The estimated social cost to families and communities 
     from bankruptcy, divorce, job loss, and criminal justice 
     costs associated with problem gambling was $6,700,000,000 
     last year.
       (4) Problem gambling is associated with higher incidences 
     of bankruptcy, domestic abuse, and suicide.
       (5) People who engage in problem gambling have high rates 
     of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.
       (6) In response to current budget shortfalls, many States 
     are considering enacting or have enacted legislation to 
     expand legal gambling activities with the intent of raising 
     State revenues.
       (7) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
     Administration is the lead Federal agency for substance abuse 
     and mental health services.
       (8) There are no agencies or individuals in the Federal 
     Government with formal responsibility for problem gambling.

     SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS GAMBLING IN SAMHSA 
                   AUTHORITIES.

       Section 501(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     290aa(d)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (17);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (18) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(19) establish and implement programs for the 
     identification, prevention, and treatment of pathological and 
     other problem gambling.''.

     SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO RESEARCH, PREVENT, AND ADDRESS PROBLEM 
                   GAMBLING.

       Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa 
     et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating part G (42 U.S.C. 290kk et seq.), 
     relating to services provided through religious organizations 
     and added by section 144 of the Community Renewal Tax Relief 
     Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-619), as enacted into law by 
     section 1(a)(7) of Public Law 106-554, as part J;
       (2) by redesignating sections 581 through 584 of that part 
     J as sections 596 through 596C, respectively; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:

 ``PART K--PROGRAMS TO RESEARCH, PREVENT, AND ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMBLING

     ``SEC. 597. PUBLIC AWARENESS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator, shall carry out a national campaign to 
     increase knowledge and raise awareness within the general 
     public with respect to problem gambling issues. In carrying 
     out the campaign, the Secretary shall carry out activities 
     that include augmenting and supporting existing (as of the 
     date of the support) national campaigns and producing and 
     placing public service announcements.
       ``(b) Voluntary Donations.--In carrying out subsection (a), 
     the Secretary may--
       ``(1) coordinate the voluntary donation of, and administer, 
     resources to assist in the implementation of new programs and 
     the augmentation and support of existing national campaigns 
     to provide national strategies for dissemination of 
     information, intended to address problem gambling, from--
       ``(A) television, radio, motion pictures, cable 
     communications, and the print media;
       ``(B) the advertising industry;
       ``(C) the business sector of the United States; and
       ``(D) professional sports organizations and associations; 
     and
       ``(2) encourage media outlets throughout the country to 
     provide information, aimed at preventing problem gambling, 
     including public service announcements, documentary films, 
     and advertisements.
       ``(c) Focus.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall target radio and television audiences of events 
     including sporting and gambling events.
       ``(d) Evaluation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of activities 
     under this section. The Secretary shall submit a report to 
     the President and Congress containing the results of the 
     evaluation.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 
     2015.

     ``SEC. 597A. RESEARCH.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator, shall establish and implement a national 
     program of research on problem gambling.
       ``(b) National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report.--In 
     carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consider the 
     recommendations that appear in chapter 8 of the June 18, 
     1999, report of the National Gambling Impact Study 
     Commission.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 
     2015.

     ``SEC. 597B. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT.

       ``(a) Grants.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator, shall make grants to States, local and tribal 
     governments, and nonprofit agencies to provide comprehensive 
     services with respect to treatment and prevention of problem 
     gambling issues and education about problem gambling issues.
       ``(2) Application for grant.--To be eligible to receive a 
     grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary in such form, in such manner, 
     and containing such agreements, assurances, and information 
     as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this 
     subsection.
       ``(b) Treatment Improvement Protocol.--The Secretary shall 
     develop a treatment improvement protocol specific to problem 
     gambling.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
     through 2015.''.
                                 ______