Hearing of the House Financial Services Committee's Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology Subcommittee: Proposed Regulation to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
Statement
Hearing of the House Financial Services Committee's Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology Subcommittee: Proposed Regulation to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
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REP. MAXINE WATERS (D-CA): Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I'm looking forward to today's testimony on the proposed regulations to implement a bill that was passed out of both the Financial Services and Judiciary Committees last session, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, by addressing not only Internet gambling that was already unlawful under legislation passed last session was a bipartisan effort to enhance enforcement by cutting off the flow of revenue to illegal enterprises. The bill prohibited the receipt of checks, credit cards charges, electronic funds transfers or similar transactions by such unlawful businesses.
I served on this Committee and the Judiciary Committee and I voted in each Committee to report the bill to the House after vigorous and passionate debate. When the measure was considered on the floor as stand-alone bill, I voted for it. I also voted for it after it was added to the Safe Ports Conference Report, which was ultimately signed into law.
Now, some have noted that the bill passed in the dead of night, and it's true that it was very late at night. But the final vote was 409 in favor, only two votes against.
Today I'm not so sure how I would vote on this bill. I have certainly been challenged by my friend Barney Frank, and he pushes a particular button with me when he talks about legislating morals or vices without infringing on fundamental rights.
Supporters of the bill stressed the compromised language that emerged from the two Committees was the product of 10 years of hard work by their unusual alliance of organizations and competing interests from religious organizations like the United Methodist Church to professional sports organizations like the National Football League.
One of the reasons I am really reconsidering my vote on this legislation is because some of those organizations that are in such strong support of the bill are organizations that I have reviewed very carefully, and I'm wondering about some of their decisions in the way that they manage their own business, and whether or not there are some questions of morality in the way that they treat some of those immoral organizations.
So again, I'm very seldom in a position where I change my vote, but this may be one of those times. But let's see what today's testimony will bring.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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