Advocacy is one of the most important NCPG programs, as we are the only advocates for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. Our efforts to educate Congress and the Federal health agencies focus on the prevention, education, treatment, enforcement and research on gambling and problem gambling. We call on all NCPG members and supporters to utilize the materials below to increase awareness of and provide solutions for gambling problems.

 

UPDATES:

 

02/05/10: Over the last few days, we've added 5 House Members to the bill for a current total of 41 sponsors. NCPG is meeting with Senate staff next week to plan the introduction of the companion bill in early March, in conjuction with NPGAW.
 

Considering that we started our legislative efforts in February 2009-over the past year we made contact with all 435 House of officers; met more than 125, held a well-attended briefing in the House office building and confirmed 41 sponsors this far. We've contacted all the Senators but have only met with about a quarter and have secured just 2 sponsors. Thanks to the Federal Affairs Committee and to all the affiliates and individual advocates who have got us this far, but we still need more of thier help plus everyone else's, now more than ever, to get this legislation heard by committees in both chambers, passed and signed by the President.

 

Later this month, we will hold a briefing in the House office building on the impact of problem gambling on urban, minority youth, featuring the award-winning Shake’m Up Break’m video from the Evergreen Council and with invited remarks from Rep. Cleaver, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Dr. Debbie Haskins, Loyola University/Maryland Council and Malik Harris, Delaware Council. A briefing on responsible gaming initiatives in Indian Country is tentatively scheduled for March 18 with Wiley Harwell, Oklahoma Council and participation from other Councils and tribes with tribal programs and connections.

 

Please contact, re-contact and follow-up on previous contacts with every Representative in your state who isn’t on the bill. Let them know its bipartisan, non-controversial legislation with 41 sponsors to date. Let us know any feedback. We know everyone is extremely busy but for most folks we’re asking a few minutes per week for advocacy emails/calls, maybe a half hour per month. Bottom line, there are 394 Members of the House and 98 Senators who AREN’T co-sponsoring the first-ever legislation to prevent youth gambling addiction and provide services for problem gamblers. They need to hear from YOU.

 

           01/11/10:. In the House, HR 2906 has 33 sponsors (list attached). The companion bill will be introduced in the  

           Senate the first week in March (in conjunction with NPGAW). The bills must be heard by their respective committees,

           marked up and sent to the floor and passed in identical versions by both the House and Senate before Congress 

           adjourns in December 2010. So while we have made more progress than ever, we still have a ways to go. The

           message is most effective if it’s in your own words AND contains district or state specific information.

 

          12/03/09: NCPG Testifies On Internet Gambling Bills. Click Here to read the written statement.

 

11/30/09: We just received the news that Sen. Merkley (D-OR) has agreed to introduce the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act with Sen. Brownback (R-KS). This is extremely great news!!!!! We will be back in touch with all NCPG members and friends to ask you for specific help as we redouble our advocacy

 

11/23/09: We have made personal contact with over 330 House members and 40 Senate members. 27 House members are sponsors of HR 2906, and 1 Senator has committed to introducing the bill in the Senate once we identify a Democratic counterpart. This is by far the most progress we’ve ever made (HR 6009 in the 109th Congress had 8 co-sponsors in the House, HR 1170 in the 110th gained 10, neither bill was introduced in the Senate) and we’ve achieved considerable momentum over the past few weeks. Our goal is to have 30 House sponsors by the end of November and 40 by December. We hope to have hearings on the bill in the early spring and push for a vote in the summer.
 

11/3/09: Reps. Baldwin (D-WI) and Kennedy (D-RI) have become the 19th and 20th co-sponsors of HR 2906, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act. We urge all problem gambling advocates to build on this momentum and re-contact your Representatives, be polite but persistent until they commit to supporting the bill. HR 2906 is positive, progressive and practical. We know that prevention, treatment and research are the most effective, ethical and efficient ways of addressing underage and problem gambling. At a time when state social services and safety nets are being cut while gambling expands, dedicated Federal grants are more important than ever.
 

10/28/09: The Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act (CPG) continues to gain support. In the House, H.R. 2906 added it’s 17th co-sponsor, Rep. McNerney (D-CA). NCPG staff, members and advocates continue to meet with Congressional staff in Washington, D.C. but we still need your help to get your Representative’s attention on underage and problem gambling issues. In the Senate we continue to search for a Democrat to join the Republican sponsor in introducing CPG as a bi-partisan bill to address problem gambling as a public health issue. By the end of the month our goal in the House is to have 20 co-sponsors, and in the Senate to have 2 Senators introduce the bill.

 

9/23/09: Reps. Castle (R-DE) and DeGette (D-CO) just signed onto HR 2906, bringing us to 14 co-sponsors in the House.  Thanks much to Lisa, Susan, Sachin & Malik at the Delaware Council for their help with Rep. Castle and to Amber & Lois with the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado for helping to secure Rep. DeGette.
 

9/22/09: Thanks to everyone who came out for the HR 2906 press conference and briefing on September 17, especially Representatives Jim Moran, Patrick Kennedy and Frank Wolf, along with speakers Tim Christensen, Dr. Chuck Maurer, Mike R. and Donna Z.  We've posted the statements and powerpoint slides from the event below.  Photos are available on the NCPG Facebook page and please remember to "friend" NCPG for similar updates! Remember, we need to keep up our education and awareness outreach until we reach and recruit every Member of Congress!

9/14/09: The National Council on Problem Gambling will host a press conference and briefing on the impact of gambling addiction and the importance of H.R. 2906, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009, a new House bill to prevent and treat gambling addiction on Thursday, September 17 from 2:00 to 3:00 in 441 Cannon House Office Building.  Members of the press and the public are welcome to attend.

8/20/09: Congress will return after Labor Day, so as the recess winds down we urge our members and friends to reach out and speak up for Federal funds to prevent, treat and research problem gambling.  Please contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor HR 2906.  Directions and materials are posted at www.ncpgambling.org/advocacy  Two new documents have just been added to the site: the ABCs of Advocacy from the Missouri Recovery Network and Speak Up, Speak Out, Speak Hard by ACT Missouri.  As you can see, these materials were displayed on the legislative exhibit table at the Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse.  Our thanks to the MCPGSA Planning Committee for promoting the bill and encouraging all the attendees to take action.  We look forward to a surge of support from the Midwest over the next few weeks!  As always please feel free to contact the NCPG office to find out how you can help pass the first-ever bill to support problem gambling programs.

7/30/09: HR 2906 is up to 10 co-sponsors in the House, though we still have not found a Senator willing to introduce a companion bill.  We have posted three new documents below.  A letter to Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT) from Donna Z, a recovering gambler and gambling counselor in Connecticut.  An updated list of health-related organizations who support HR 2906, and an updated letter template to ask House members to co-sponsor HR 2906. 

7/10/09: H.R. 2906, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009, was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 17 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee. In addition to original sponsors Representative Moran (VA), Terry (NE) and Wolf (VA) we have 5 co-sponsors: Representatives Berman (CA), Frank (MA), Hare (IL), McDermott (WA) and Platts (PA). We urge you to utilize the materials below to contact Representatives from your district and state and urge them to sign onto the bill. In addition to seeking House co-sponsors, we also ask you to contact your Senators to request they introduce a companion bill to H.R. 2906. Additional local, community, state and national addiction, counseling, health, substance abuse and mental health organizations are welcome to sign onto the letter of support for H.R. 2906 at any time, so please continue to reach out to these groups in your area. 

6/1/09: NCPG has drafted the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act (CPG) and calls on all NCPG members and supporters to contact your U.S. Representative and urge them to support this bill, scheduled to be introduced in the House of Representatives by June 15, 2009. The bill, talking points and a template letter are available below. Please feel free to customize the letter, and fax a copy to NCPG office (202.547.9206) so that we can coordinate and followup. Also please use the sign on letter below to get support for the bill from addiction, mental health, counseling and other advocacy organizations. Contact Federal Affairs Committee Chair Tim Christensen or Executive Director Keith Whyte with any comments or questioins about the legislative process.

Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act Materials: