RELIGIOUS RIGHT PRESSING FOR SENATE VOTE ON INTERNET GAMBLING

(360) (30-August-2006)

Baptist spokesman in the U.S. wants to see "a more moral, healthy, God-honoring nation"

The Baptist Press focused on the legislation facing a reconvened U.S. Congress this week, looking toward the resumption of legislative activity on September 5 and describing legislation supported by pro-life and pro-family Americans as "...hanging in the balance."  The prohibition of Internet gambling is one of the legislative items that the religious right wants to see banned, apparently.

The Senate and House of Representatives probably will have little more than a month to deal with legislation before the November election, with the adjournment date for this Congress set for October 6.  However, the publication speculates that Republican leaders could seek an earlier adjournment in order to send party members home as soon as possible to campaign in what appears will be a tight race for control of both houses.

Pressing legislation that religious bodies are hoping to see passed include the Child Custody Protection Act and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.

Bills that await passage by only one chamber when Congress reconvenes include:

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act , which seeks to ban most online gambling. The House voted 317-93 for the measure in July, but the Senate has not acted on it.

"We have been working on an Internet gambling bill for years," Barrett Duke , vice president for public policy and research of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission told the Baptist Press. "Meanwhile, gambling predators have been suckering millions of Americans into losing billions of dollars. It's up to the Senate to get this job done and shut down most of these gambling sites. It would be tragic to come this close and fail. The senators just need to hear from the voters."

The Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act , which would fund research to develop embryo-like stem cells without creating or knowingly harming human embryos. The Senate approved it in a 100-0 vote in July. Though the House voted 273-154 for the bill, it fell 12 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed under the rules that applied in this case. The House possibly could vote again on the measure under other rules.

The ADVANCE Democracy Act , which would promote democracy in other countries and aim to end dictatorships without military intervention. The House approved the measure as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act last year, but the Senate has not voted on it in this congressional session.

A measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus' name at public events. The legislation, which would protect the rights of chaplains to pray according to their consciences, passed the House in May as part of a Department of Defense authorisation bill. A conference report reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of the authorization bill must be drafted and approved.

Legislation that has yet to pass either house in this session despite support by the ERLC and other organisations includes:

The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act , which would require an abortion doctor to inform a woman at least 20 weeks into her pregnancy of evidence about the severe pain her unborn child would experience during the procedure and to offer anesthesia for her baby if she still chooses to have an abortion.

The Human Cloning Prohibition Act , which would ban cloning for both reproductive and research purposes.

The RU 486 Suspension and Review Act , which would suspend the abortion drug's sale while a review is conducted of the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the pill.

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act , which would restore protections to people of faith at work in such areas as clothing and time off for religious observances.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act , which would authorise the FDA to control the manufacture, promotion and sale of tobacco products.

The STOP Underage Drinking Act , which would approve a public service media campaign and other components of a coordinated attempt to reduce alcohol consumption by minors.