HR669 is toast!!!!! Just got the email:)

Just got the email from USARK! HR669 as it stands is dead. If Bordallo wants it to go forward it has to be drafted from scratch and go to sub- committee again. THE REPTILE NATION IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY!!
Here's the email for those that have not gotten it.
WE DID IT FOLKS!!!! Victory over HR669! You can thank yourselves and the Reptile Nation, for a hard fought Victory! Our nearly 50,000 grassroots letters and 1,000s of phone calls to the offices of the subcommittee members clearly prevailed at today's Insular Affairs Subcommittee hearing on HR 669. HR 669 in it's current form is finished. For anything to go forward it MUST be re-written from the ground up....and USARK will have a seat at the table along with other stake holders.

Delegate Faleomavega from Samoa said, "The letter and phone campaign hit the subcommittee like a BUZZ SAW". Harry Burroughs, of the subcommittee staff said, "I haven't seen a letter writing campaign like this in 30 years! You should be proud of yourselves." Take heart in the fact that the Reptile Nation stopped HR669 in it's tracks!!

We also need to thank Congressman Henry Brown, SC for helping us to focus our fight on the Subcommittee as opposed to the full House of Representatives. He is the one who instructed us to write real letters to be truly effective. He said emails are fine if that is all you can manage, but they can be filtered and deleted. There is no denying the weight of thousands of paper letters from American citizens. The Reptile Nation was responsible for 49,229 letters delivered to the Subcommittee in less than two weeks. Congressman Brown's staff made sure they all got in the door. 38,000 of those letters will be entered into the permanent record. Thank you my friends!

Credit should also be given to Bill Martin, a witness who testified at the hearing. He is the President of Blue Ridge Aquatics, a large multi-state Tilapia farming operation. They farm Tilapia as a food fish. He had some serious problems with the bill and the ear of much of the committee. His plain talk of how this bill would destroy hundreds of families hit home. What they do and the impact this bill would have on them parallels the plight of the Reptile Nation.

Senior Democrat staff from the House Committee on Natural Resources advised Subcommittee Chair Madeleine Bordallo that if she wants something to go forward she will have to go back to square one and draft a new bill. Then have another subcommittee hearing. When and if she does, USARK will be there to represent the interests of the Reptile Nation!! They probably will try, and that will be our challenge for another day. But Today VICTORY is SWEET!...... Celebrate today and rest, because tomorrow we must get ready to fight again.

Thank you Reptile Nation! Thank you Tom Wolfe. Thank you everyone who did their part.

Stay tuned... This fight has only begun!

USARK

A note from Tom Wolfe:

"The good news is, USARK engineered a significant victory which caught the attention of the entire membership of the Subcommittee and their staffs.

The bad news is this is just the first step in the process. Members of the Reptile Nation should be jubilant with this victory. However, our success should be measured, because the proponents of HR 669 will be back soon with another version of the same legislation. They will not rest, so we must not rest either.

Take satisfaction in a job well done and a victory well deserved, but know we all must rise up again to fight on because the battle has just begun!"

So cool!!!

Isn't there supposed to be scantily clad but perfectly respectable beer wenches distributing natures ambrosia to the celebrating masses right now.

Why am I always in the right place at the wrong time?

See other exact thread on this.Ok where did it go lol

Got the email also from USARK. :gj:

:taz::taz::taz::banana::banana::banana::pinkele::pinkele::pinkele:
:fest::fest::fest::fest2::fest2::fest2::carrot::carrot::carrot:
:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:
:headbang::headbang::headbang::juggle::juggle::juggle:
:number1::number1::number1::lick::lick::lick::twisted::twisted::twisted:

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Originally Posted by joepythons

See other exact thread on this.Ok where did it go lol

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I asked JLC to take it down, since the wording of the email is a little open, HR 669 may not be toast.

HR 669 the BILL may not be dead, however, it sounds like USARK is rejoicing that it is being reviewed and rewritten, so as it STANDS, it won't pass.

I'm a little confused about the whole thing too, so maybe I should stop posting. :P

Can anyone find any other proof of defeat besides USARK? I'm not believing it until they do. When the committee adjourned, Chair Madeleine Bordallo said they would have 10 days of discussion. PIJAC doesn't say anything. I'm still not believing a total defeat. Nothing against USARK, but I need proof.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I asked JLC to take it down, since the wording of the email is a little open, HR 669 may not be toast.

HR 669 the BILL may not be dead, however, it sounds like USARK is rejoicing that it is being reviewed and rewritten, so as it STANDS, it won't pass.

I'm a little confused about the whole thing too, so maybe I should stop posting. :P

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Ok so i am not crazy then :rolleye2:,:rofl:

Just watch they will go and rewrite it but it will make less sense then 669 lol

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Ok so i am not crazy then :rolleye2:,:rofl:

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No, no you are! But yes the thread was pulled by my request. :P

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Originally Posted by Denial

Just watch they will go and rewrite it but it will make less sense then 669 lol

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You're probably right. :mad:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

No, no you are!

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:tears: :tears:

if they come up with stuff that makes the fish and wild life any more confused,then if permits are needed for some animals,his loss of answers alone will discredit them so much we win:):banana::salute:

Anyone know when they can rewrite the bill? Can they only bring it to comittee once a year or something or can they rewrite it as many times as they feel like it until they at least get something passed?

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

GO US, ITS OUR BIRTHAYS!!!!!!!

THE BEST NEWS IVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME!!!!

WAY TO GO EVERYONE!!!!!!

DRINKS ARE ON ME!!!! [lll]D [lll]D [lll]D [lll]D [lll]D

(beers all i can do via the wii, both puters are jacked up lol)

*remember no drinking & driving*

guys,,dont let your gaurds down,,like andrew said,celebrate TODAY,but be ready to fight the war again tommorrow,we are the minority as snake keeps,or even likers/lovers of the animals,this will be NEVER ending,,,but for today .......*&&**&& YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I posted this in the thread that was removed and I'll post it again here. This bill is NOT dead!!!! On the contrary, it has only been given the opportunity to be modded and rewritten to better clarify things.
By posting threads insinuating this bill is dead is one of worst things we can do. It gives people a false sense of security and victory, when in all actuality, we have won NOTHING yet. The ONLY thing we won today was more time to write more letters, make phone calls and otherwise pester the living hell out of the morons trying to take away our pets.
This bill can be submitted as many times as the subcommittee wants to submit it due to the fact it wasn't tossed out. It is still as active a proposal tonight as it was a week ago and is still more dangerous than the snakes we keep as pets.
DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!!!! The war is FAR from over. All that's happening now is the politicians are regrouping to hit us with another barrage in the near future.
Only by staying united and continuing to fight this legislation can we force this bill into the bathrooms of the idiots who want it passed so it can be used what it was REALLY meant to be used for. We can't give up the fight now!!!! :colbert::taz:

I'm sure we will see HR769 or something down the road, but i'll celebrate for now:)
The people on the front line of this like Adam, Brian, Kara, Pete, Marshall, Tom Wolfe among many others deserve a HUGE THANK YOU in my book! Let's not forget the efforts of the entire bp.net staff!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RebelYell83

guys,,dont let your gaurds down,,like andrew said,celebrate TODAY,but be ready to fight the war again tommorrow,we are the minority as snake keeps,or even likers/lovers of the animals,this will be NEVER ending,,,but for today .......*&&**&& YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What happens many times is they throw an extreme measure of a bill out knowing it will not pass. Then they write a watered down version that still takes a chunk of what your fighting for, but convinces many that they are actually winning because they aren't taking "as much". Be aware if you lose any part of this battle , you still LOSE!! Most people will probably go for the watered down version. So the fight to retain what we have will be tougher next time around. Don't be fooled into thinking you've won. The battle is far from over.:(

that is very true,every battles we have to come stronger and stronger,and fight even harder,once anything,no matter how watered down it becomes gets passed,it makes everything else so mcuh easier

If you attempt to pass the most strict and wide ranged bill possible first, then the more and more you water it down, the more likely it will pass.

They knew it wouldn't pass, but I'm going to guess they tried to use such an 'outstanding' bill that would cause issues to so many so that they can eventually narrow it down to have a better chance at passing.

Edit: I just said the same thing twice.. I'm going to bed.

I already said something about this in another thread, but I'll repeat it here.

I have very mixed emotions about what happened today. It is obvious that HR 669 as it was written is dead, and I am glad.

BUT, there is a double edged sword to that. What they will do is add in a much longer list of exempt animals, maybe tweak a few other things to make other groups happier, and then it will come back. I don't know the process well enough to know if it will still be called HR 669 or not, but that really doesn't matter.

What will happen is that animals such as ferrets, guinea pigs, and tilapia fish will all be protected just the same as cats & dogs were in the original one. Or maybe they'll have exemptions for people raising animals for food. Whatever the details are, next time around, there won't be some guy from some big fish company arguing our side. Next time, the ferret guy I saw won't be there.

Next time, the reptile industry may be standing all alone. That will make it much harder to fight. Even if we manage to send just as many letters, emails, and make just as many phone calls, the reps won't listen as much as they did when they understood that they had offended the entire pet industry.

Yes, celebrate for what happened today. But be aware that by not managing to kill it DEAD with a single blow, we may have actually made a much harder fight for ourselves.

Well if they fix all the issues with the bill(banning anything except pet zebra mussels and asian carp an kudzu) I'd be fine with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

If you attempt to pass the most strict and wide ranged bill possible first, then the more and more you water it down, the more likely it will pass.

They knew it wouldn't pass, but I'm going to guess they tried to use such an 'outstanding' bill that would cause issues to so many so that they can eventually narrow it down to have a better chance at passing.

Edit: I just said the same thing twice.. I'm going to bed.

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I did a double take when I read that....lol.

*does the happy dance*

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Isn't there supposed to be scantily clad but perfectly respectable beer wenches distributing natures ambrosia to the celebrating masses right now.

Why am I always in the right place at the wrong time?

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There are at my house!

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

There are at my house!

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It's gotta be the car! LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by waltah!

It's gotta be the car! LOL

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There's a lot of things a woman would consider doing in a car like that. :D

My wife was just as involved with this she knew if I had to stop breeding snakes I'd be back to buying $400.00 fountain pens and things like Yamaha ZR1's :D which I'm still getting I don't care what she says.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

There's a lot of things a woman would consider doing in a car like that. :D

My wife was just as involved with this she knew if I had to stop breeding snakes I'd be back to buying $400.00 fountain pens and things like Yamaha ZR1's :D which I'm still getting I don't care what she says.

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lol.. be careful on those things ;)

I have to carefully balance my two hobbies of fishing and pets. They can BOTH sink the bank account.

I'm resisting getting into musky fishing as much as I can. Dear god if I end up making friends with a musky fisherman with boat I don't know what's going to happen. $600 rod/reel setups, $30 bucks a lure..

I know musky fishermen with over 400 lures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

There's a lot of things a woman would consider doing in a car like that. :D

My wife was just as involved with this she knew if I had to stop breeding snakes I'd be back to buying $400.00 fountain pens and things like Yamaha ZR1's :D which I'm still getting I don't care what she says.

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Hey, who doesn't love a nice pen?! lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

which I'm still getting I don't care what she says.

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Bull!!! I know Carrie, and she can take you! :groinkick:
:pee:
HR669

Its just round one of a long fight. Dont take your gloves off quite yet folks, we still got more rounds to fight.

The more we join forces as a united front, the stronger voice we will have.

My deepest Thanks to all those who contributed to make this voice heard!:gj:

Now reload your weapons, take aim and take no prisoners, the enemy will return to fight another day!

There will always be battles to keep our liberties. Be prepared, and keep up the good work.

And may the force be with us.

Hooray!!!

That's absolutely fantastic.

Not to end the celebration, but what's the word on S373....drafted by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson to "ban the interstate transport of all python species". I worry about this one, because it focuses only on pythons.

JonV

Let's go get em', stay strong my friends and NEVER get complacent....

Super Awesome!!! Keepers Unite!!!

its not dead yet the committee didnt vote on it either way

not officially dead,but after the stellar job the fish and game guy did to bury himself,this wont be going anywhere anytime soon

yes but what about s373?

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Originally Posted by llovelace

yes but what about s373?

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thats the question of the yearand my honest opinion is,its been sitting stagnant for a reason,heres what i see happening,they put s 373 into action,to get it introduced,get the warning period out to the public,and get it pushed through the intial stage,KNOWING hr 669 was coming in right behind it,would garner all of our attention and resources to fight the hell out of that,knowing ti was so broad it would be decemated.now,if we let our gaurds down,watch,Nelson will try to quitly pass this one while eveyrbody is still distracted by 669,and with it being an amendmant,might just be easier,as nobody is fighting it,were still looking at 669,,,just a vision i see

I knew it all along...

WOW 50,000 letters! In only two weeks, think if we would have had more time how many there'd be :D

Folks, it's not completely over and we may have a lot more work ahead of us. Listen to Reptile Radio tonight for updates and an interview with Marshall Meyers of Pijac - or listen to the archive tomorrow.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptileradio