I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2334 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to specifically include, in programs 
of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 
programs to research, prevent, and treat the harmful consequences of 
pathological and other problem gambling, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 23, 2011 
Mr. MORAN (for himself, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, and Mr. 
WOLF) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to specifically in-
clude, in programs of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, programs to research, 
prevent, and treat the harmful consequences of patholog-
ical and other problem gambling, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comprehensive Prob-
lem Gambling Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) Problem gambling is a public health dis-
order characterized by increasing preoccupation with 
gambling, loss of control, restlessness or irritability 
when attempting to stop gambling, and continuation 
of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, seri-
ous, negative consequences. 
(2) Over 6,000,000 adults met criteria for a 
gambling problem last year. 
(3) The estimated social cost to families and 
communities from bankruptcy, divorce, job loss, and 
criminal justice costs associated with problem gam-
bling was $6,700,000,000 last year. 
(4) Problem gambling is associated with higher 
incidences of bankruptcy, domestic abuse, and sui-
cide. 
(5) People who engage in problem gambling 
have high rates of co-occurring substance abuse and 
mental health disorders. 
(6) In response to current budget shortfalls, 
many States are considering enacting or have en-
acted legislation to expand legal gambling activities 
with the intent of raising State revenues. 
(7) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration is the lead Federal agency 
for substance abuse and mental health services. 
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(8) There are no agencies or individuals in the 
Federal Government with formal responsibility for 
problem gambling. 
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF AUTHORITY TO TREAT GAMBLING IN 
SAMHSA AUTHORITIES. 
Section 501(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290aa(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(17); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (18) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(19) establish and implement programs for the 
prevention, treatment, and research of pathological 
and other problem gambling.’’. 
SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO RESEARCH, PREVENT, AND ADDRESS 
PROBLEM GAMBLING. 
Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
290aa et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating part G (42 U.S.C. 290kk 
et seq.), relating to services provided through reli-
gious organizations and added by section 144 of the 
Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (114 
Stat. 2763A–619), as enacted into law by section 
1(a)(7) of Public Law 106–554, as part J; 
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(2) by redesignating sections 581 through 584 
of that part J as sections 596 through 596C, respec-
tively; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘PART K—PROGRAMS TO RESEARCH, PREVENT, 
AND ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMBLING 
‘‘SEC. 597. PUBLIC AWARENESS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator, shall carry out a national campaign to 
increase knowledge and raise awareness within the general 
public with respect to problem gambling issues. In car-
rying out the campaign, the Secretary shall carry out ac-
tivities that include augmenting and supporting existing 
(as of the date of the support) national campaigns and 
producing and placing public service announcements. 
‘‘(b) VOLUNTARY DONATIONS.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) coordinate the voluntary donation of, and 
administer, resources to assist in the implementation 
of new programs and the augmentation and support 
of existing national campaigns to provide national 
strategies for dissemination of information, intended 
to treat problem gambling, from— 
‘‘(A) television, radio, motion pictures, 
cable communications, and the print media; 
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‘‘(B) the advertising industry; 
‘‘(C) the business sector of the United 
States; and 
‘‘(D) professional sports organizations and 
associations; and 
‘‘(2) encourage media outlets throughout the 
country to provide information, aimed at preventing 
problem gambling, including public service an-
nouncements, documentary films, and advertise-
ments. 
‘‘(c) FOCUS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall target radio and television audiences of events 
including sporting and gambling events. 
‘‘(d) EVALUATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of activities 
under this section. The Secretary shall submit a report 
to the President and Congress containing the results of 
the evaluation. 
‘‘SEC. 597A. RESEARCH. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator, shall establish and implement a na-
tional program of research on problem gambling. 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL GAMBLING IMPACT STUDY COMMIS-
SION REPORT.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall consider the recommendations that appear in chapter 
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8 of the June 18, 1999, report of the National Gambling 
Impact Study Commission. 
‘‘SEC. 597B. TREATMENT. 
‘‘The Secretary shall develop a treatment improve-
ment protocol specific to problem gambling. 
‘‘SEC. 597C. PREVENTION. 
‘‘The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, 
shall integrate problem gambling into existing alcohol, to-
bacco and other drug prevention programs, where prac-
tical.’’. 
Æ 
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