HR 4411: Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act

Please Support the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act -- HR 4411

The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, H.R. 4411, sponsored by Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Jim Leach, R-Iowa, would cut off credit-card payments to illegal Internet-gambling sites -- most of which are offshore -- and give the Justice Department increased ability to prosecute illegal wagering.The House passed it July 11 on a 317-93 vote. It's now in the Senate.Chad Hills, analyst for gambling research and policy for Focus on the Family Action, called it a "fantastic development."

"The bill, in essence, says we will not allow this 'bullet train' to crash into millions of American homes with Internet access," Hills told CitizenLink. "Basically, without it, we could have a casino in every house in America, if Internet casinos can legally operate online."

In recent years, Hills said, gambling on the Internet has exploded. "It's the fastest-growing segment of the worldwide gambling industry," he explained. "Today it's a $12 billion industry -- with half of that estimated to come from the U.S. We're talking about tremendous growth."
Indeed, the growth in online betting has reached such levels that five major sports leagues -- Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association -- sent a letter to Congress lending their support to the bill. "It just goes to show that this piece of legislation has broad support, not just (among) pro-family groups, but also among major-league professional sports," Brian Newell, government affairs assistant with the Family Research Council, told Family News in Focus.

Hills said it's important that supporters speak up. "I encourage people to contact their senators to get behind this legislation," Hills said. "We need to do something about online gambling, and this bill will be a major step forward."

S. 3696: Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act

Please support the Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act - S. 3696

The Veterans' Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, and Other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2006 would prevent groups such as the ACLU from collecting attorneys' fees in cases involving religious expression.

S. 403 The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

Please support S. 403 The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act would make it illegal for someone to transport an underage pregnant girl out of state for an abortion in order to circumvent parental-consent or notification laws in her home state.

Please vote to pass S. 403, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, as amended by the House.

-- S. 403 supports parents rights

-- S. 403 would involve parents in the daughter's pregnancy decisions

-- S. 403 would thwart men who are sexually abusing underage girls and who then seek to take them out of state for an abortion to cover up their crimes

HR235: Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration

Please support H.R. 235, the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act."

Churches and houses of worship should be free to take strong positions on moral issues for the sake of our nation's spiritual and moral health. Any issue can be made political. Houses of worship should not be censored just because a moral issue becomes of political consequence.

The Internal Revenue Service should not have effective censorship power over religious speech by wielding the power to deny tax-exempt status to a church.

We urge you to strongly support H.R. 235, the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act."