RED ALERT: HR511 Stop Python and Boa BAN NOW!

[USARK.Jonathan.Brady]

RED ALERT: HR511 Stop Python BAN NOW!

HR 511, a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation of various injurious species of constrictor snakes; Indian python, Python molurus, including the Burmese python, Python molurus bivittatus; reticulated python, Broghammerus reticulatus; Northern African python,Python sebae; Southern African python, Python natalensis; Boa constrictor; yellow anaconda, Eunectes notaeus; DeSchauensee’s anaconda, Eunectes deschauenseei; green anaconda, Eunectes murinus; and the Beni anaconda, Eunectes beniensis, in the US House of Representatives, was introduced January 26, 2011 by Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) .

Congressman Rooney has taken action to move HR 511! This bill seeks to add 9 constricting snakes to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act. HR 511 has been scheduled for a Markup Hearing before the US House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday February 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM EST.

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/markups112.html

>>There is very little time to voice opposition to this bill that could devistate the Reptile Community. Please participate in the USARK Call In Campaign TODAY!<<

PHONE CAMPAIGN:

Talking Points:

• Will destroy thousands of jobs and small family businesses; $104 million annual economic impact.
• Criminalize the actions of over 1 million American Citizens; Lacey Act felons.
• Federal action to address a localized problem in South Florida is unnecessary; the State of Florida and US Fish & Wildlife have already taken draconian measures.
• Underlying science has been criticized by scientists from around the world.
• Creates a massive animal welfare problem, potentially displacing millions of animals.

Key Members of House Judiciary Committee:

Lamar Smith (R-TX)- 202-225-4236
Sensenbrenner (R-WI)- 202-225-5101
Coble (R-NC)- 202-225-3065
Issa (R-CA)- 202-225-3906
Gohmert (R-TX)- 202-225-3035
Chaffetz (R-UT)- 202-225-7751
Gowdy (R-SC)- 202-225-6030
Poe (R-TX)- 202-225-6565
Goodlatte (R-VA)- 202-225-5431

DO IT NOW!!!

[wolfy-hound]

Called each one this morning. At all times I was polite, made certain to mention the main points given above. (economic impact, lack of environmental OR public safety concern, fact that it makes innocent Americans into felons if they want to keep their pets, etc)

I start at the bottom of the lists, in case other people get interrupted and never make it to the last folks, this way we're assured all the list gets called.

Results....
Goodlatte- VA : Aide was dismissive, gave the "I'll pass on your concerns" comment.

Poe- R-TX : Listened attentively, gave the "I'll pass on your concerns"

Gowdy R-SC : Said they won't record my objections, because I'm "not in their district". I told them it was FEDERAL and they were on a FEDERAL committee that would affect everyone in the US, therefor they should be taking EVERYONE'S concerns.

Chaffetz - UT: Said they OPPOSE the bill, that UT has industry that would be impacted, that it's not a good bill, they will not be supporting it.(This is what the local office told me weeks ago when I talked to them then about it)

Gohmert - TX : Has terrible hold music while the aide looked for someone else to talk to me, that person was busy, he listened with some interest, but was less interested when he learned I was not in his district. "I will pass on your concerns" after I repeated my insistence that this is a FEDERAL impact, thus my voice counts.

Issa - CA :Automated system, left a message. *this was the ONLY office that a live person did not pick up*

Coble - NC : The aide sounded sick, took my info, sounded like he really wanted to be home on the couch, so was very dismissive.

Sensenbrenner - WI : The aide implied there WAS a problem "cropping up across the US" regarding the species in the bill. When asked for examples of any issues, he admitted he didn't know that much about any of it. I ran through the facts for him, and he waffled, saying "Well I don't know about any of that..." and I repeated, my facts were facts, not opinions... as far as lack of ANY environmental impact anywhere except south Florida(which has bans already), the lack of public safety concerns(brought up cats causing more deaths and more environmental impact as ferals) but the aide all but implied that he himself seemed to think the bill was good. I assume(ASSume, I know, but I got no clear answer yea or nay)that THIS Congressman is FOR the bill. We should definitely be calling him repeatedly from across the country.

L. Smith - TX : This aide transferred me TO the Judiciary committee offices? Who promptly told me I should be calling Congress offices, but they would make sure Smith got my concerns. I called the office again, told the aide that the Committee offices told me I should be calling the various Congress offices, and she agreed, then told me I should call them... after admitting that Smith is the HEAD of the Committee. *eyebrow quirk* I don't know if she was confused, didn't think the HEAD of the Committee should take comments, or doesn't want to hear opposition to the Bill. She gave no hints yea or nay, but I gave her my spiel over that I oppose it and why.

I did my best to sound like a concerned US citizen, over the economic impact, the lack of benefit, etc.. not like a frantic pet owner who has half read a Email chain letter. I made certain to repeat the job loss, the lack of benefit because that's the two things that a typical Congressman might be concerned with. They don't care if we can't own a certain species of big snake. They are concerned with $$ and numbers. So I emphasized that, with a touch of "Wouldn't it look terrible if a military member has to euthanize his pet of 20 years, just because a useless Bill was passed by YOUR Congressman..." hints to a few of the aides. I referred to the animals in the Bill as "species" or "pets" instead of "constrictor snakes" or "giant maneating pythons" or anything that could evoke a "ewww snake!" response.

Hopefully there's a LOT more calls going in. The Bill is due for a hearing TOMORROW.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I called them all, and as stated above not much ground was made. The people who answered seemed like they didn't want to talk about snakes. Maybe that means they are getting lots of calls... We can only hope this helps.

[babyknees]

I will be calling within the next hour. I just wanted to comment on this thread to bump it to the top! This is important!

[wendhend]

I shared all of this information on Facebook as soon as I learned about it this morning, and I just got done calling all of the representatives on this list, as well as some of my own state representatives. They were all friendly and polite but not really interested in talking about the issues. Several of them took down my contact information, and all of them said they would pass my opposition to the HR511 to their congress person. Let's all try to do this and hope that it helps! Please SHARE this information as well, to help increase awareness.

[sgath92]

Called each one this morning. At all times I was polite, made certain to mention the main points given above. (economic impact, lack of environmental OR public safety concern, fact that it makes innocent Americans into felons if they want to keep their pets, etc)

I start at the bottom of the lists, in case other people get interrupted and never make it to the last folks, this way we're assured all the list gets called.

Results....
Goodlatte- VA : Aide was dismissive, gave the "I'll pass on your concerns" comment.

Poe- R-TX : Listened attentively, gave the "I'll pass on your concerns"

Gowdy R-SC : Said they won't record my objections, because I'm "not in their district". I told them it was FEDERAL and they were on a FEDERAL committee that would affect everyone in the US, therefor they should be taking EVERYONE'S concerns.

Chaffetz - UT: Said they OPPOSE the bill, that UT has industry that would be impacted, that it's not a good bill, they will not be supporting it.(This is what the local office told me weeks ago when I talked to them then about it)

Gohmert - TX : Has terrible hold music while the aide looked for someone else to talk to me, that person was busy, he listened with some interest, but was less interested when he learned I was not in his district. "I will pass on your concerns" after I repeated my insistence that this is a FEDERAL impact, thus my voice counts.

Issa - CA :Automated system, left a message. *this was the ONLY office that a live person did not pick up*

Coble - NC : The aide sounded sick, took my info, sounded like he really wanted to be home on the couch, so was very dismissive.

Sensenbrenner - WI : The aide implied there WAS a problem "cropping up across the US" regarding the species in the bill. When asked for examples of any issues, he admitted he didn't know that much about any of it. I ran through the facts for him, and he waffled, saying "Well I don't know about any of that..." and I repeated, my facts were facts, not opinions... as far as lack of ANY environmental impact anywhere except south Florida(which has bans already), the lack of public safety concerns(brought up cats causing more deaths and more environmental impact as ferals) but the aide all but implied that he himself seemed to think the bill was good. I assume(ASSume, I know, but I got no clear answer yea or nay)that THIS Congressman is FOR the bill. We should definitely be calling him repeatedly from across the country.

L. Smith - TX : This aide transferred me TO the Judiciary committee offices? Who promptly told me I should be calling Congress offices, but they would make sure Smith got my concerns. I called the office again, told the aide that the Committee offices told me I should be calling the various Congress offices, and she agreed, then told me I should call them... after admitting that Smith is the HEAD of the Committee. *eyebrow quirk* I don't know if she was confused, didn't think the HEAD of the Committee should take comments, or doesn't want to hear opposition to the Bill. She gave no hints yea or nay, but I gave her my spiel over that I oppose it and why.

I did my best to sound like a concerned US citizen, over the economic impact, the lack of benefit, etc.. not like a frantic pet owner who has half read a Email chain letter. I made certain to repeat the job loss, the lack of benefit because that's the two things that a typical Congressman might be concerned with. They don't care if we can't own a certain species of big snake. They are concerned with $$ and numbers. So I emphasized that, with a touch of "Wouldn't it look terrible if a military member has to euthanize his pet of 20 years, just because a useless Bill was passed by YOUR Congressman..." hints to a few of the aides. I referred to the animals in the Bill as "species" or "pets" instead of "constrictor snakes" or "giant maneating pythons" or anything that could evoke a "ewww snake!" response.

Hopefully there's a LOT more calls going in. The Bill is due for a hearing TOMORROW.

Notice that the ones that seemed to be most in favor of the ban from your observations are from states that have been trying to ban them on a state-level? SC, VA, WI.

Given that this bill overlaps with some of the species that were already put on LACEY last month, I think this is an attempt to cover Pres Obama's butt for having made his LACEY additions as an executive decision instead of a legislative one.

[babyknees]

Notice that the ones that seemed to be most in favor of the ban from your observations are from states that have been trying to ban them on a state-level? SC, VA, WI.

Given that this bill overlaps with some of the species that were already put on LACEY last month, I think this is an attempt to cover Pres Obama's butt for having made his LACEY additions as an executive decision instead of a legislative one.

I found the repeat species very odd as well. If it is a butt covering maneuver then it's even more likely to pass, imho.

[crepers86]

I posted on Craigslist, Facebook, and myspace. I am also emailing it out to a lot of people that will take a stand that don't even like snakes

[crepers86]

I don't really have a phone at the moment I can call in. but I have a bunch of other people that I can do it for me... this just erks the crap out of me... and they they don't even want to listen!!! I might be a Christian but our government is f'd up what ever happened to the bill of rights?

[thedarkwolf25]

I can't really do anything since I am at work, the best I can do is try and share this on my facebook ....