It is Time to Get Off the Bench

Floor Speech

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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.

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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