ALERT: S373 Senate Call In Tomorrow (email from USARK)

Just got the following e-mail from the USARK, thought I would share for those who are not on their mailing list.

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ALERT: S373 Senate Call In Tomorrow

S373 aka ‘The Python Ban’ will receive a Hearing before the Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee Chaired by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on December 3, 2009. The bill sponsor is Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). If passed as written it would Ban all snakes in the family Pythonidae, placing them on the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act. That is ALL 40 species of pythons! This action would stop all import, export and interstate transport. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has taken steps to lobby Senator Nelson to add Boa Constrictor to the bill as well. HSUS has publicly called for an end of reptile ownership nationwide for years.

This will NOT be a full and fair hearing on this issue. As we understand it right now there will be eight bills heard by the committee with only one witness to testify on all eight. USARK does not anticipate that there will be additional witnesses called. This seems to be an effort to ram through as many bills as possible in as short a time as possible.

USARK is opposed to legislating any animals on to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act. This should be a science and policy driven debate. As it stands now the science is being “cherry picked” to support political expediency. An independent group of scientists called the USGS study being used by HSUS and others to justify a ban, “unscientific”.

USARK is providing the best information available on this issue. We realize that these are scary times and we ask that everyone in the community come together to fight this battle. There is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights. Join the Reptile Nation!



CALL IN DAY: 11/30, 12/1 & 12/2

Sample:
My name is _____. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, This bill will hurt American families while doing little to benefit conservation. This bill would Ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons. It would destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.

Call List: (this is not a full list of the EPW just the key members likely to be at hearing)
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)
Phone: (202) 224-3553
Fax: (202) 224-0454

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)
Phone: (202) 224-4721
Fax: (202) 228-0380

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)
Phone: (202) 224-6142
Fax: (202) 228-1375

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: (202) 224-4944
Fax: (202) 228-3398

Banning pythons would destroy the rodent breeding industry too! D=
Does it matter what number I call? Should i just call all of them?

In my opinion, you have every right to call the people listed in USARK's email if you want to... If the bill will affect you, why not speak up?

just incase anyone was wondering this is not the first hearing this year. the first one was on 7-8-09 here is the video of that hearing
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.c...3-f2bfbd089682

oh yes also here is a list of the members of the entire committee
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.c...n=Members.Home

and again as stated before that emails typically get you a generic response. telephone calls are much more attention getting and disruptive in nature :D

Call ALL of them. Every day until the 3rd. It's never been more vitally important to make your voice heard.

All of these bills are an attempt to wear us down. To take advantage of the typically short attention span people have these days. The goal is to keep it up until the opposition appears to stop, because people stopped working at it. Then they can slam-dunk through whatever they want.

Let them know that no matter how long they drag this out, we aren't going away.

Just called that list and one of them said they were getting a lot of calls. Don't be nervous, you just have to give your name and say you oppose the bill. It took about 3 minutes to go through that list, well worth it I think!

Bill Nelson: On hold forever with cheerful classical music. Eventually answered by a real human who was not very talkative.

Barbara Boxer: Answering Machine.

James Inhofe: Voice Mail due to high call volume.

Ben Cardin: Real human, bit bored.

Mike Crapo: Human, talked over me to end the call as soon as I stated what I was calling to oppose.

Lamar Alexander: Female human, polite but not talkative or interested.

I called everyone on the list and in general had no problome with there services. This was my first time calling in ( more of a fax person) and I'm surprised by how fast the whole thing goes by....makes you wonder if they even keep records lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Bill Nelson: On hold forever with cheerful classical music. Eventually answered by a real human who was not very talkative.

Barbara Boxer: Answering Machine.

James Inhofe: Voice Mail due to high call volume.

Ben Cardin: Real human, bit bored.

Mike Crapo: Human, talked over me to end the call as soon as I stated what I was calling to oppose.

Lamar Alexander: Female human, polite but not talkative or interested.

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The Hawiian Rep. was the most rude though. She flipped when she found out I wasn't from Hawaii and cliamed I wasted her time.

That hissing in the kitchen? Snake!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
E-mail this story | Print

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By The Associated Press
LAKEBAY, Wash. (AP) -- Betty Corey first thought the hissing from her Lakebay, Wash., kitchen might be one of her dogs. Wrong. It was a 4-foot-long ball python. Not a fan of snakes, Corey called 911 and a Pierce County Animal Control officer removed the snake Tuesday morning. Officer Brian Boman said the agency will house the snake at its shelter, keeping it warm and close at hand if its owner is looking for it.

Boman says it's likely a pet that escaped from a nearby house. He notes it needs a temperature between 80 and 85 degrees and couldn't survive long in the wild this time of year.

Corey said the snake likely slithered into her home through the doggie door.


This does not help our case any.

Well, it was harmless, they mentioned it couldn't survive outside, and no one was hurt, so it's not the worst press ever. Accidents happen, and animals escape. The snake is being well treated, which is good.

Hope everyone is making their calls!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ophidian Obsessed

The Hawiian Rep. was the most rude though. She flipped when she found out I wasn't from Hawaii and cliamed I wasted her time.

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just another note dont let these idiots write you off.
as part of being on the committee your not wasting their time. i have had this problem before.

these politicians join these and attempt to write off anyone who isnt in their home state. if you come across someone that does this contact the chairperson of the board and the leader of their branch be it senate or the house.

i called earlier to day and while i was giving my info and every thing befor i hung up the phone i ask the rep what they think of this ban on large snake and boas ,,, He told me that its none of my business, and i shouldnt worry about it, i keep my cool and respectably told him what i had thought and what it would do to me and my family,, he told me sorry there is nothing i can do about it and hung up the phone,,,,,i really dont think these people really care at all, i think that they are doing this just to get there reputation up and get payed more, they really dont care about what happens to the people and there familys, i just pray that at least one of them have a little bit of concern for the herp familys and careers ,,, and notice that these animals are not all that bad and that there are other ways to help the glades...

thats just my OP, and my experience with these reps that dont give a damn,,,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by playingwithsnake_21

i called earlier to day and while i was giving my info and every thing befor i hung up the phone i ask the rep what they think of this ban on large snake and boas ,,, He told me that its none of my business, and i shouldnt worry about it, i keep my cool and respectably told him what i had thought and what it would do to me and my family,, he told me sorry there is nothing i can do about it and hung up the phone,,,,,i really dont think these people really care at all, i think that they are doing this just to get there reputation up and get payed more, they really dont care about what happens to the people and there familys, i just pray that at least one of them have a little bit of concern for the herp familys and careers ,,, and notice that these animals are not all that bad and that there are other ways to help the glades...

thats just my OP, and my experience with these reps that dont give a damn,,,

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thats because they dont they do this to make themselves look good.
i think this time im going to start recording them and send it to the news :D

Never going to stop ever wake up america!call

Never going to stop ever wake up america!call the glades were hurt & destroyed by development & land use not burmese pythons use common sense people!

These bills are ridiculous, in my opinion, and I don't even live in the United States (so far as I know, I haven't heard of any recent bills up here... O_O). Would it make an even larger statement if Canadians started calling those numbers? I can't even imagine how upset I would feel for all the BP lovers, like myself, if these bills passed. :tears:

So I want to help any way I can.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Moofins07

These bills are ridiculous, in my opinion, and I don't even live in the United States (so far as I know, I haven't heard of any recent bills up here... O_O). Would it make an even larger statement if Canadians started calling those numbers? I can't even imagine how upset I would feel for all the BP lovers, like myself, if these bills passed. :tears:

So I want to help any way I can.

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Actually a number of snakes were just deemed dangerous in B.C. heres the link

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife...d-reptiles.pdf

Call anyway, let them know that Canada will be pissed if this bill passes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ophidian Obsessed

Actually a number of snakes were just deemed dangerous in B.C. heres the link

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife...d-reptiles.pdf

Call anyway, let them know that Canada will be pissed if this bill passes.

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Man, this sucks! And I worry for a friend of mine. He owns at least a couple things on that list, like the Nile Monitors for example.

I did my calls this morning. I am getting everyone I know to call.

Tracy

We've rounded up at least a dozen more people locally to call in.

Mailboxes on a bunch of them

I left messages where I could and talked to a few people who were more than willing to hear me out when I talked in a calm manner.

Make the calls people!

Took MAYBE 10 minutes guys.

Today's calls made. I really hate talking on the phone, but this is too important not to. :P
I managed to get the ones who wanted to rush me off the phone to sit and listen, this time. Still got a few voice mails, and got put on hold a couple of times.

Made my calls! It was much more easy than I thought!

The FULL list--this is the last day. Call 'em ALL.

CALL IN DAY: 12/2 ***LAST DAY***


Sample:
My name is _____. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, there is NO evidence to show this bill will have any conservation effect on the Everglades. This bill will hurt American families in our state. It would Ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons and destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.

Contact: Full Senate EPW Committee
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)
Phone: 202-224-3553
Fax: 202-224-0454

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)
Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-6142
Fax: 202-228-1375

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Fax: 202-228-3398

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724

Sen. Max Baucus [D-MT]
Phone: 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-9412

Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond [R-MO]
Phone: 202-224-5721

Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]
Phone: 202-224-2441
Fax: 202-228-2190

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282

Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Phone: 202-224-3244
fax: 202-228-2186

Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
Phone: 202-224-3224
Fax: 202-228-4054

Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997

Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders [I-VT]
Phone: 202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776

Sen. Arlen Specter [D-PA]
Phone: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229

Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Phone: 202-224-6621

Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061

Sen. George Voinovich [R-OH]
Phone: 202-224-3353

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]
Phone: 202-224-2921
Fax: 202-228-6362

Sen. Bill Nelson: answering machine
Sen. Barbara Boxer: answering machine
Sen. James Inhofe: Attempts to rush you off the phone
Sen. Ben Cardin: Busy signal X2 (woot!) -- will try later.
Sen. Mike Crapo: Tired sounding lady said they have gotten lots of calls, and she understands, and they've read it. Didn't seem to want to hear it. lol
Sen. Lamar Alexander: Busy signal. -- Will try later.
Sen. John Barrasso: Polite lady who listens, but doesn't say much.
Sen. Max Baucus: Polite lady who listens, but doesn't say much.
Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond: Polite lady who listens, but doesn't say much.
Sen. Thomas Carper: Attempts to rush you off the phone
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: Bored guy who attempts to rush you off the phone.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar: More engaged than most, mentioned they had gotten 'several calls'.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg: Voice mail system.
Sen. Jeff Merkley: More polite and engaged than most, once you get him to not rush you off the phone.
Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders: Polite lady who listens, but doesn't say much.
Sen. Arlen Specter: Asks what county you're in (implication, if you're not in their State, it's not that important to them).
Sen. Tom Udall: Man doesn't seem to know how to respond. <lol>
Sen. David Vitter: More polite and engaged than most.
Sen. George Voinovich: Polite lady, more engaged than most.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: More polite and engaged than most.

Done!
Your turn!