Response from Senator Roberts, KS.
In 2006, Congress passed and the president signed into law (P.L. 109-347) the SAFE Port Act to enhance security at our nation’s ports. I supported the SAFE Port Act because it is central to the protection of America’s busiest ports. Provisions to curb online gambling in the United States were included in P.L. 109-347 due to concerns that terrorists and organized criminals could use gambling websites as a means to launder money. The law bans receipt of checks, credit card charges, and other electronic funds transfers for Internet gambling.
Over the past two years, a number of bills were introduced in the House and Senate to permit online gambling licenses and to regulate and tax Internet gambling. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, I appreciate your concerns. None of the bills addressing this matter came before the Finance Committee or the full Senate before Congress adjourned last year. Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should this issue come before the Senate this year.
Again thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you would like more information on issues before the Senate, please visit my website at
http://roberts.senate.gov. You may also sign up on my home page for a monthly electronic newsletter that will provide additional updates on my work for Kansas.
With every best wish,
Sincerely,
Pat Roberts
I was somewhat surprised a Kansas senator might consider a poker bill after voting on the UIGEA>