[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H570-H571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IT IS TIME TO GET OFF THE BENCH

  (Ms. SALINAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, sports fans across the country 
will gather to watch the Super Bowl.
  This great American tradition usually involves watch parties, endless 
commercials, and lots of chips and guac. These days, sports betting is 
also a key part of the big game.
  It is easier than ever to gamble on sports. Americans will wager 
about $1.4 billion on this year's Super Bowl alone. At the same time, 
about 7 million Americans suffer from a gambling addiction.

[[Page H571]]

  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a little gambling myself from time to 
time, but I also know the pain that comes with addiction. Unlike drugs 
and alcohol, there is currently no Federal funding devoted to 
addressing problem gambling.
  It is time to get off the bench. That is why I am reintroducing the 
Gambling Addiction, Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act, a bill 
that would devote existing Federal funds to the study, prevention, and 
treatment of gambling addictions.
  This legislation will help get more people into treatment and on the 
road to recovery. I am committed to building bipartisan consensus on 
this issue, so no matter who you root for this weekend, I hope you will 
join me to support the GRIT Act.

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