Chamber of Commerce opposes S373.

This is the USARK letter I got today:

"WILMINGTON, NC, December 16--In a letter addressed to the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works the US Chamber of Commerce takes a position opposing S. 373 that echoes the position of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. The bill ostensibly written to address the issue of feral Burmese pythons in the Everglades is overreaching and circumvents the scientific listing process called for by the Lacey Act through the US Fish & Wildlife Service.



USARK believes that Burmese pythons have been sensationalized in the media and S. 373 has become overly politicized. USARK president Andrew Wyatt stated, “I don’t think there is any doubt that the Humane Society of the United States is trying to highjack this bill and use it as a tool to destroy the trade in high quality captive bred reptiles”. The HSUS has a long standing ideological position opposing all reptiles in captivity. They have lobbied extensively to pass as broad a version of S. 373 as possible.



As written, S. 373 would not achieve its stated goal of addressing the problem of feral pythons in the Everglades. It would, however, have a tremendous impact on the trade of captive bred reptiles in the US and abroad including a number of pythons and Boa constrictor. The trade in captive bred reptiles is a $3 billion a year industry and US exports account for 82% of trade worldwide. S. 373 if passed would be devastating. Thousands of jobs would be lost and scores of small family owned businesses would be bankrupted.



The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, opposes S. 373. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, “if enacted in its current form, this legislation would adversely impact tens of thousands of businesses”. The Chamber goes on to state that, “If, however, Congress intends to pass a ban to limit the import of the Burmese Python, then it is essential that the proposed ban be drafted as narrowly as possible”."

Okay, so it doesn't mean anything's in the clear but I feel a little happy that someone in the government is saying this piece of legislation is crap. Just thought some people might like to hear about this if they don't get the newsletter.

Could it be someone is REALLY thinking like we do :O.

Finally some good news!! Finally part of the govt is making sense.

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Originally Posted by Emilio

Finally some good news!! Finally part of the govt is making sense.

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Well yea if you dont have burms....

The Chamber of Commerce is not a government organization. They are certainly a powerful lobby group, but give the current administrations history of completely ignoring views that aren't in alignment with their own, this certainly isn't a silver bullet.

The good news is that this is just another item that Senators who want to take our side can use as a tool to support their opposition to S373. In your calls and meetings with your Senators, make sure to mention the views of the Chamber of Commerce.

I'll have updated talking points for meetings and phone calls that incorporate the views of the Chamber up on www.nosnakeban.com by the end of the day.

-adam

This IS very good news, though. I'm glad they're on our side!

Wow, it's about time.

Adam,
Is there any way we can get a list of which senators are leaning for and against? I know from a response I saw posted, John Cornyn from Texas seems to be against and that jives with what I got back from him on HR 669. I'm waiting to hear back on an appointment to meet with his Houston staff myself.

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Originally Posted by Hypnotic Exotic

Adam,
Is there any way we can get a list of which senators are leaning for and against? I know from a response I saw posted, John Cornyn from Texas seems to be against and that jives with what I got back from him on HR 669. I'm waiting to hear back on an appointment to meet with his Houston staff myself.

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Generally speaking, the Republicans are against the idea of ignoring the existing regulatory process for listing species as injurious and oppose S373/HR2811. The Democrats are in favor of bold and sweeping government actions to combat any issue that is considered to have negative environmental impacts to Americas ecosystems. Dems feel that the existing processes are too slow to act and that they have the responsibility to take control and make the changes themselves.

I'm working in Washington to meet with staff members representing all 100 Senators to educate them about S373 and find out where each stands. For many, this bill is brand new and they are still investigating it in order to form an opinion. As I gather information after the first of the year (Congress is stuck on Health Care and only Health Care right now and then they are leaving for winter break), I'll be able to share it publicly so that we can all effectively campaign to the right people.

Great question!!!

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Dems feel that the existing processes are too slow to act and that they have the responsibility to take control and make the changes themselves.

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They're not really wrong about that, they're just not bright enough to realize this is not one of those cases.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

They're not really wrong about that, they're just not bright enough to realize this is not one of those cases.

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It's wrong when that use of power becomes abusive to the liberties of Americans. If today they feel that a USFW risk analysis is too slow and they should instead list pythons & boas themselves as injurious with no scientific testimony, no study of the true economic impact, what happens when the next issue comes up?

What happens when they decide that the appointment of Federal judges is too slow? Do they just use their majority to skip that process, change the rules, and appoint who they want?

What happens when they decide that passing health care is taking too long? Do they decide to start changing the system through the use of their majority to make that move in their favor as well?

If the injurious listing process is too slow, they should fix it. The Democrats in Congress have no business taking the duties of the Department of the Interior into their own hands and altering laws.

Something to think about ... if this were really that big of a problem, the Secretary of the Interior has emergency listing authority, he could put all of these animals onto the Lacey Act with the stroke of a pen whenever he wants.

-adam

I'm not arguing that--the system needs to be overhauled, though, because some species have definitely made their way here that shouldn't have. You can't deny that.

This IS the wrong way to go about it. The old way isn't necessarily the right way either.

I wasn't saying this was the proper way to go about this. I was only saying that the system was broken.

There is no doubt that the system needs to be changed ... I have yet to hear one person object to that idea.

Hopefully, one day it will be done in a way that includes the input of responsible pet owners instead of alienating them.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Emilio

Finally some good news!! Finally part of the govt is making sense.

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Only one problem. The US Chamber of Commerce isn't part of the Govt. They have absoloutely nothing to do with the passing of this bill.:tears:

Their opinion is highly respected, though.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Their opinion is highly respected, though.

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Not really. They represent American business interests and they weren't even invited to the President jobs summit. They have been a vocal opponent of many of the moves being made with health care on the hill, so they have been shut out by the Dems.

When Republicans are in power, the chamber is influential. Unfortunately, that's not the case in todays political climate.

-adam

I know, it's still sucky for those of you who also have the larger snakes, I keep a couple boas myself. And I'm sticking up for all the snakes to be kept but there is some bright side in it being lowered to cover only nine species, hopefully with enough fighting we can get it to not go through at all. I don't like it how many people are only standing up for only Ball Pythons or only worried about them, it's not a matter of this affecting just me as a hobbyist but affecting everyone who loves these creatures, not to mention all the breeders.

Maybe the Chamber of Commerce isn't as high up as we like but I do find a little comfort in someone in the public's eye saying "hey, this is bad and we don't like it."