Letter from my Democratic Senator

[derrabe]

Dear Ian,



Thank you for contacting me about legislation limiting the importation and transportation of pythons and boa constrictors.



Over the years, I have enjoyed the companionship of many family pets. I understand your strong feelings about protecting your ability to keep and care for your pets.



As you may know, Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) introduced a bill (S.373) that would ban the importation of constrictor snakes and pythons into the United States. This bill passed the Environment and Public Works Committee on December 10, 2009, and is currently pending before the Senate. Should this legislation come before me for a vote, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.



Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.



Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator

I hope she does actually think before voting

[dsirkle]

The fact that she is noncommittal speaks volumes.

[MPenn]

The fact that she is noncommittal speaks volumes.

Amen to that!!

[Dragon76]

Here is the letter i received from one of my state senators..

Dear Michael:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding S. 373, a bill that
would list python constrictor snakes as an "injurious" animal under the Lacey
act. I appreciate hearing from you.

Across our nation, invasive species are taking their toll on our native
wildlife populations and habitats. In Rhode Island, for example, invasive
Asian shore crabs have almost completely replaced the native crustaceans of our
beaches and Phragmites, an invasive marsh weed, has overtaken native estuarine
plants. The detrimental effects that invasive species may have on the natural
environment, and, in some instances, on public health and safety, are real and
profound.

The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900, is one of our nation's preeminent wildlife
protection statutes. Under this Act, those animal species determined by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to cause significant harm to humans,
agriculture, or wildlife in the United States are deemed "injurious," making
them subject to a strict ban on the importation into the U.S. or transportation
of the species between states. USFWS conducts a data-intensive, and usually
lengthy, review process with public input before making a final determination.

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida introduced S.373 in response to potentially
dangerous non-native constrictor snakes that are rapidly populating Everglades
National Park. This legislation would immediately add constrictor snakes to
this "injurious" list and prevent further imports of these species into the
United States. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) --
of which I am a member -- took up the bill earlier this month and amended the
legislation to limit its application to just nine specific species of
constrictor snakes, identified by the USFWS as the greatest risk, as
injurious.

I understand your concern for those who own one of these snakes and may need to
transport the animal across state lines. However, it is important to note that
the USFWS does grant permits that allow injurious species to be transported to
different states. I have included a fact sheet from the USFWS that addresses
the injurious species provisions of the Lacey Act. More information can be
found on their website as well: www.usfws.gov. Rest assured, your concerns are
well heard and I will keep them in mind should this legislation come before the
full Senate for a vote.

Once again, thank you for contacting me about this matter. I hope you will stay
in touch about this or any other issue of concern to you.


Sincerely,
Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't understand how any python could be considered "injurious" in my state of Rhode Island, of all places, it gets ridiculously cold out side during the winter, and as far as i am aware none of the snakes on the list could possibly live out one of our winters. I really hope this silly bill does not pass, It doesn't seem fair to me that all responsible pet owners should have to suffer for the mistakes of a few. Nor do i think it is the right way to go about the fixing real issue of "feral snakes" in certain states. I really hope that my senators and the rest of the state senators accross the country really think before they vote.

PLEASE EVERYONE DO YOUR PART AND LET CONGRESS KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT JUST SIT AND LET THEM DESTROY OUR PASSIONS, HOBBIES, LIVELYHOOD, OR OUR PETS!! WRITE TO YOUR STATE SENATORS OPPOSE S.373

[jsschrei]

Here is the letter i received from one of my state senators..

Dear Michael:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding S. 373, a bill that
would list python constrictor snakes as an "injurious" animal under the Lacey
act. I appreciate hearing from you.

Across our nation, invasive species are taking their toll on our native
wildlife populations and habitats. In Rhode Island, for example, invasive
Asian shore crabs have almost completely replaced the native crustaceans of our
beaches and Phragmites, an invasive marsh weed, has overtaken native estuarine
plants. The detrimental effects that invasive species may have on the natural
environment, and, in some instances, on public health and safety, are real and
profound.

The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900, is one of our nation's preeminent wildlife
protection statutes. Under this Act, those animal species determined by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to cause significant harm to humans,
agriculture, or wildlife in the United States are deemed "injurious," making
them subject to a strict ban on the importation into the U.S. or transportation
of the species between states. USFWS conducts a data-intensive, and usually
lengthy, review process with public input before making a final determination.

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida introduced S.373 in response to potentially
dangerous non-native constrictor snakes that are rapidly populating Everglades
National Park. This legislation would immediately add constrictor snakes to
this "injurious" list and prevent further imports of these species into the
United States. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) --
of which I am a member -- took up the bill earlier this month and amended the
legislation to limit its application to just nine specific species of
constrictor snakes, identified by the USFWS as the greatest risk, as
injurious.

I understand your concern for those who own one of these snakes and may need to
transport the animal across state lines. However, it is important to note that
the USFWS does grant permits that allow injurious species to be transported to
different states. I have included a fact sheet from the USFWS that addresses
the injurious species provisions of the Lacey Act. More information can be
found on their website as well: www.usfws.gov. Rest assured, your concerns are
well heard and I will keep them in mind should this legislation come before the
full Senate for a vote.

Once again, thank you for contacting me about this matter. I hope you will stay
in touch about this or any other issue of concern to you.


Sincerely,
Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't understand how any python could be considered "injurious" in my state of Rhode Island, of all places, it gets ridiculously cold out side during the winter, and as far as i am aware none of the snakes on the list could possibly live out one of our winters. I really hope this silly bill does not pass, It doesn't seem fair to me that all responsible pet owners should have to suffer for the mistakes of a few. Nor do i think it is the right way to go about the fixing real issue of "feral snakes" in certain states. I really hope that my senators and the rest of the state senators accross the country really think before they vote.

PLEASE EVERYONE DO YOUR PART AND LET CONGRESS KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT JUST SIT AND LET THEM DESTROY OUR PASSIONS, HOBBIES, LIVELYHOOD, OR OUR PETS!! WRITE TO YOUR STATE SENATORS OPPOSE S.373

I looked up this permit the Senator is speaking of. It is for zoological, educational, medical, or scientific purposes only. Not for hoobyists or business owners to buy or sell to other American citizens.

I wonder if the Senator knows that, or if it is his scapegoat.

[MitsuMike]

Those letters are depressing. I was looking into this bill alittle more b/c all I ever read is burmese python and other snakes. So I found the snakes being banned.
"The snakes that would be banned: Burmese python, northern and southern African pythons, reticulated python, green anaconda, yellow anaconda, Beni or Bolivian anaconda, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, and boa constrictor."
Don't understand about the boa constrictors though, but I thought the ball python was on this list if not it makes me alittle more happy.

[blackcrystal22]

At least you know the Senators are reading your letters. Some of them are actually adding bits and pieces of personal experience into their responses, so at least we know it didn't just spit out an automated reply letter.

[TJ'sHerps]

Here is the letter i received from one of my state senators..

Dear Michael:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding S. 373, a bill that
would list python constrictor snakes as an "injurious" animal under the Lacey
act. I appreciate hearing from you.

Across our nation, invasive species are taking their toll on our native
wildlife populations and habitats. In Rhode Island, for example, invasive
Asian shore crabs have almost completely replaced the native crustaceans of our
beaches and Phragmites, an invasive marsh weed, has overtaken native estuarine
plants. The detrimental effects that invasive species may have on the natural
environment, and, in some instances, on public health and safety, are real and
profound.

The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900, is one of our nation's preeminent wildlife
protection statutes. Under this Act, those animal species determined by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to cause significant harm to humans,
agriculture, or wildlife in the United States are deemed "injurious," making
them subject to a strict ban on the importation into the U.S. or transportation
of the species between states. USFWS conducts a data-intensive, and usually
lengthy, review process with public input before making a final determination.

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida introduced S.373 in response to potentially
dangerous non-native constrictor snakes that are rapidly populating Everglades
National Park. This legislation would immediately add constrictor snakes to
this "injurious" list and prevent further imports of these species into the
United States. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) --
of which I am a member -- took up the bill earlier this month and amended the
legislation to limit its application to just nine specific species of
constrictor snakes, identified by the USFWS as the greatest risk, as
injurious.

I understand your concern for those who own one of these snakes and may need to
transport the animal across state lines. However, it is important to note that
the USFWS does grant permits that allow injurious species to be transported to
different states. I have included a fact sheet from the USFWS that addresses
the injurious species provisions of the Lacey Act. More information can be
found on their website as well: www.usfws.gov. Rest assured, your concerns are
well heard and I will keep them in mind should this legislation come before the
full Senate for a vote.

Once again, thank you for contacting me about this matter. I hope you will stay
in touch about this or any other issue of concern to you.


Sincerely,
Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow, I got the same letter, word for word. signed by my Senator.

[Skiploder]

At least you know the Senators are reading your letters. Some of them are actually adding bits and pieces of personal experience into their responses, so at least we know it didn't just spit out an automated reply letter.

They're not.

People are getting automated letters. The only thing that differs is the addressee.

Some Senators and Representatives are a little craftier - they send out pro and con letters: pro letters to supporters of the bill and con letters to people who are against it.

Make no mistake - either way - they are not reading your letters. For most of them - their minds are already made up.

[Skiploder]

Wow, I got the same letter, word for word. signed by my Senator.

I rest my case.

The vast majority of these letters are form letters. Don't for a second give any of these stooges credit for keeping an open mind about this.