Representative Jim A. McDermott, Democrat of Washington, on Tuesday introduced legislation to direct $40 billion of Internet gambling revenue over the next ten years to job training for those in declining economic sectors and educational assistance for youth in foster care.
The Investing in our Human Resources Act, or H.R. 6501, would fund the programs through new revenue generated by legal and regulated Internet gambling in the United States.
Mr. McDermott said regulated Internet gambling presents an untapped resource for social assistance.
"We have an ideal opportunity to invest billions of dollars in American workers and our struggling economy without increasing the federal deficit,"
Mr. McDermott said in a prepared statement. "IHRA would utilize a funding stream that would become available should Congress decide to legalize and regulate internet gambling, which would protect consumers and collect tax revenue that is currently offshore."
Representatives George Miller, Democrat of California, and John B. Larson Democrat of Connecticut, are co-sponsors of the legislation. Mr. Miller is the chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor.
