Update on hearing on hr2811

Just got off the phone with Adam Wysoki, he was in attendance at the sub committee hearing on hr2811. His take on things was that it seemed that they weren’t in a hurry and seemed a little but like it was a hot potato issue. Nothing changed from the sub committee but it was mentioned that there would be amendment of the proposed bill in full committee and that it would read that only Burmese and Rock Pythons will be added to the lacey act. He said that the parties pushing for this bill had agreed to that amendment. That being said there is still a long process and things could change for the better or the worst. This still has to go through full committee where they could change it hopefully for the better and then of course for a vote in the house and then it has to go through the same process in the Senate before it can be signed into law by the president. So the only thing that seems to have come out of this is that they realize this is a touchy proposed bill because of public opinion on both sides as well as that they seem to be more interested in targeting the Burmese and African Rock Pythons because they have been responsible for all 12 deaths in the last 30 years. Just thought I’d update everyone on how things went. We need to keep the fight up for the entire hobby! Brian(BHB)

thank you for the update:gj:

Thanks Brian..Keep us updated as you hear things.

Well, the news is better then what I thought would happen.

Thanks for the Update Brian! That sucks for Burms and Burm Breeders though! :( Hopefully there will be some kind of permit system to it.

I seriuosly doubted the fact that the government would ban all pythons. I CAN see them baning big snakes. You just have to look at the fear level of an average person and a big snake. I hope that it works out for the better for the big snake owners though.:gj:

Thanks for the update Brian.

I actually got a reply from my senator, seems promising..



Dear Derrick,



Thank you for contacting me to share your views about The Python Ban Bill (S.373). I appreciate knowing your views on this matter.



This legislation falls under the jurisdiction of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As a member of this Committee, I want to assure you that I will be following the progress of this bill, and I will keep your views in mind.



If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please go to my website, http://merkley.senate.gov/, to sign up for my e-newsletter updates or to email me directly.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please stay in touch.




All my best,
Jeff Merkley
United States Senate

The Full Committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday July 29th (tomorrow). Just got the word. That's not official but it comes from a good source.

Thanks for the update Brian... The ol' hurry up and wait game again huh?!?! :weirdface

Hi,

Do these things normally move so swiftly?

It seems like we got almost no warning of this one compared to the last one.

I do think if they manage to ban the import or trading of one species they will use it as a lever to go after more. :(

I just feel when someone is making outrageous and unfair demands then compromise is not what they deserve. At that point you only validate their stance and move yourself into closer proximity to outrageous behaviour.

Someone somewhere is paying an awful lot of money to push this particular agenda - I would much rather find them and stop them than rush about trying to deal with the fires once they are started with less and less warning each time. :taz:

How about a campaign of education to every member of the government about the topics, votes and numbers involved.

Maybe we could get awareness to the level where the persons pushing this claptrap can't get enough support to propose these bills in the first place.


dr del

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Originally Posted by twistedtails

I seriuosly doubted the fact that the government would ban all pythons. I CAN see them baning big snakes. You just have to look at the fear level of an average person and a big snake. I hope that it works out for the better for the big snake owners though.:gj:

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I'm sorry but any ban will be the snowball that starts the avalanche. What happens once they ban the Big 4? They start looking to target #5 (RTB's)...

To add to this, I also just got off the phone with Adam and he said that from 8:30 until 10:00 a.m. people need to CALL, CALL, CALL and this time your message needs to be:

I would like to ask that expert testimony is heard before this is taken to a vote.

Everyone needs to flood the phone lines tomorrow morning with this message. This is NOT going before a sub-committee like HR669 did, it's going straight to a vote, and some of the people Adam talked to said that they were not reptile experts, and didn't feel comfortable voting without hearing some expert testimony first. So we need to drill that message home!

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Originally Posted by ColinWeaver

The Full Committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday July 29th (tomorrow). Just got the word. That's not official but it comes from a good source.

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You are correct - at 10:00 a.m.

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I'm sorry but any ban will be the snowball that starts the avalanche. What happens once they ban the Big 4? They start looking to target #5 (RTB's)...

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I never said that I was supportive of the ban. All I said is look at the fear level of an average person and big snakes. You have to accept the fact that these are real fears of real people. Another thing that you have to underatand is that it takes more than banning one type of snake to ban other types also down the road. Boas have not proved to be dangerous or invasive. These bill makers have a strong leg to stand on when it comes to banning the burmese and rock pythons. These snakes have proved that are capable of harming people. I would like to say that these people that are being hurt are bad keepers and put themselves at danger, but, lets face it look at the poor little girl that payed for her dad's mistakes:tears:. This bill is being set forth to protect innocent people like her. Do I support it? No!!! I think the legit answer would be to screen a little further into whole is allowed to care for these animals, and also make routine inspections of thier enclosures, and, the living situatutions of the keepers. If a person proves to not take care of thier house and home they should not be able to keep big snakes. Kinda like a Child Protective Services for big snakes. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but through a few peoples neglegence, we shall pay. That is the story of America.

Will be calling for sure!

Do we just need to call the members on the list that USARK sent out?

And 8:30 am to 10:00 am for which time zone? Im assuming EST?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

To add to this, I also just got off the phone with Adam and he said that from 8:30 until 10:00 a.m. people need to CALL, CALL, CALL and this time your message needs to be:

I would like to ask that expert testimony is heard before this is taken to a vote.

Everyone needs to flood the phone lines tomorrow morning with this message. This is NOT going before a sub-committee like HR669 did, it's going straight to a vote, and some of the people Adam talked to said that they were not reptile experts, and didn't feel comfortable voting without hearing some expert testimony first. So we need to drill that message home!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

To add to this, I also just got off the phone with Adam and he said that from 8:30 until 10:00 a.m. people need to CALL, CALL, CALL and this time your message needs to be:

I would like to ask that expert testimony is heard before this is taken to a vote.

Everyone needs to flood the phone lines tomorrow morning with this message. This is NOT going before a sub-committee like HR669 did, it's going straight to a vote, and some of the people Adam talked to said that they were not reptile experts, and didn't feel comfortable voting without hearing some expert testimony first. So we need to drill that message home!

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Another good sign that those who don't feel comfortable not knowing what they are voting on, will not take rights from us. I know this subject is close to home guys. Remember how many bills go before the house daily that are shot down.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Will be calling for sure!

Do we just need to call the members on the list that USARK sent out?

And 8:30 am to 10:00 am for which time zone? Im assuming EST?

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Yes - same list and EST.

PIJAC Pet Alert:

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During the House Judiciary Subcommittee Markup Session this afternoon, NO AMENDMENTS were offered. Only a few members spoke. One felt that they did not have sufficient knowledge to formulate appropriate amendments and requested testimony from reptile experts so they would be able to educate themselves to make an informed and proper decision. The Chair mentioned that Representative Rooney would submit a proposed amendment during the Full Judiciary Committee Markup Session tomorrow, July 29. The proposal would limit the ban to Burmese and African Rock Pythons. There is no indication that exceptions for interstate movement of animals already possessed in the United States would be permitted.

The full Judiciary Committee will hold a Markup Session tomorrow July 29 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. You can watch it on the Internet by going to http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/calendar.html and clicking on "Watch Video Webcast" for July 29 under "FULL COMMITTEE."

IT IS IMPORTANT for concerned pet owners from all around the country to contact members of the FULL COMMITTEE via telephone, Fax and email to encourage them to seek expert input. Complete contact information for the full House Judiciary Committee can be found by viewing page 3 of PIJAC's July 27 PetAlert.

To contact your own Representative, and to view helpful talking points, enter your Zip Code in the 'Call Now' box or 'Take Action' link and tell your Representative to convey your concerns to their colleagues on the Judiciary Committee!

BEWARE that this sets a dangerous precedent by simply adding controversial species to the Lacey Act without hearings and better understanding of the issues. While today it might be your Burmese Python, tomorrow it might be your pet bird, turtle or fish due to a perceived "danger!"

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http://capwiz.com/pijac/callalert/in...ertid=13804911

there are documented reticulated python deaths. but this should be a NON ISSUE as accidents happen.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

To add to this, I also just got off the phone with Adam and he said that from 8:30 until 10:00 a.m. people need to CALL, CALL, CALL and this time your message needs to be:

I would like to ask that expert testimony is heard before this is taken to a vote.

Everyone needs to flood the phone lines tomorrow morning with this message. This is NOT going before a sub-committee like HR669 did, it's going straight to a vote, and some of the people Adam talked to said that they were not reptile experts, and didn't feel comfortable voting without hearing some expert testimony first. So we need to drill that message home!

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Should we ask for a specific expert like Andrew Wyatt of USARK?

Thanks Brian and Robin, I will make my calls urging for expert testimony tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Wild Bill

Should we ask for a specific expert like Andrew Wyatt of USARK?

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Bill, Adam said that we don't need to suggest an expert - they've got folks there who can suggest experts for them.

Here's Adam's update from nohr669.com

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Jul 28
QUICK UPDATE: HR 2811
Adam Wysocki Legislative Process, hr 2811 Add you comment

Just got back in the office from the HR 2811 hearing in Washington, D.C. and I wanted to post about what happened.

In case you don’t know, HR 2811 is a proposed bill in Congress that seeks to amend existing legislation to ban the interstate transport, import, and export, of 7 species of pythons. These seven species include one of the most popular pet snakes in the country … the ball python.

Even if you’re not a snake fan, HR 2811 should scare the life out of you. This is the first time ever that the US Congress, without testimony form experts or any facts based in real science, has attempted to ban a species that has been in the pet trade for decades. Pet owners should be very concerned.

At todays meeting in Congress, only three of the dozen or so Congressmen chose to speak … The committee chair read a statement and stated that an amendment would be introduced at the full committee markup meeting to limit the ban to only burmese pythons and rock pythons. It is not clear if captive bred pets will be affected.

The ranking member, Rep Gohmert, called for scientific testimony so that he could make an informed decision. He stated that no one on the subcommittee was a reptile expert.

Representative Wasserman Schultz from Florida called for a ban on even more species to prevent potential future “invasions” (this statement should scare everyone with a pet) … She also lied to the subcommittee and stated that all 100,000 pythons in the everglades were confirmed to be released pets … probably one of the biggest lies perpetrated on the American public.

Tomorrow morning at 10am is the full committee meeting. It’s not a vote, just the next step in the life of HR 2811 … I’ll be there and will report on what happened as soon as I get home.

In the mean time … keep calling!!! …. Tell the committee members that you would like for them to hear expert testimony so that they can inform and educate themselves before HR 2811 goes any further. Even if you don’t own a snake, call … if they can do this to one or two species of pet, they can do it to all of them!

For more information, check out this link at PIJAC. Scroll down to where it says “U.S. House Judiciary Committee To Consider Python Ban This Week” and then TAKE ACTION!!!

Adam Wysocki
www.nohr669.com

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