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

[Dianna]

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

[Stalker Jesus]

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

[Dianna]

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?

[nixer]

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

[WingedWolfPsion]

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.

[Hulihzack]

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!

[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.

[Derrick13]

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

[Ophidian Obsessed]

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.

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.

[ballmom]

That hissing in the kitchen? Snake!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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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.