WARNING - BAN ON BOAS & PYTHONS!! - HR6311 Reintroduced as HR669

[Stewart_Reptiles]

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_public...ed_012709.html

Congresswoman Bordallo Introduces Bill to Protect People and Native Wildlife by Addressing Exotic Animal Importation


January 27, 2009

The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International welcomed the introduction yesterday of the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (H.R. 669) in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam).

The bill is designed to prevent the introduction and establishment in the United States of nonnative wildlife species that may harm the economy, the environment, human health or native wildlife. H.R. 669 would require the federal government to assess the risk of nonnative wildlife species proposed for importation and, with public input, decide if the importation of these animals should be allowed or prohibited.

"Each year, millions of wild animals are captured overseas and imported into the United States," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS. "This trade results in the suffering and death of large numbers of animals, poses unnecessary risks to public health and jeopardizes native wildlife populations here and abroad. We are grateful to Congresswoman Bordallo for working to address this global problem."

Imported wild animals may escape or may be let loose by owners who cannot properly care for them. These animals sometimes die from starvation, predation or exposure. Sometimes, however, they thrive — putting people, domestic pets and native wildlife at risk.

Facts

Under current regulations, the Fish and Wildlife Service can declare species "injurious," making it illegal to import these animals or sell them over state lines as pets. However, this process typically takes years to complete and occurs after species are established, when eradicating them can be expensive, inhumane and nearly impossible.
Congresswoman Bordallo represents the island of Guam, where brown tree snakes accidentally introduced after World War II have decimated native bird and lizard populations.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2005 the United States imported the following numbers of live, wild animals: nearly 88,000 mammals; 259,000 birds; more than 1 million reptiles; more than 5 million amphibians and more than 200 million fish.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora aims to ensure sustainability and humane treatment in the international wildlife trade, but many species are not covered and even covered species may be harmed by trade

Time for you to show your support and sign the petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/u...311/index.html

[joepythons]

I have done my part

[TJ20]

Done and done.

[2kdime]

Another attempt?!?

I'll do my part!

[icygirl]

Do those online petition things actually do anything?

[TMoore]

I somehow managed to sign it twice, oops.

[Shadera]

/sign

Does someone have a physical address where objections to this Bill can be snail-mailed, or perhaps a phone number?

[Argentra]

Signed. Stupid, idiotic zealots... They hear one or two stories, usually originating because of idiot no-knowledge keepers, and they leap onto their bandwagon of "Let's get rid of all of them!"

Sorry...MAJOR pet peeve of mine.

[ThyTempest]

Where is this broken screens article that the ban is supposedly based on?

[Melicious]

Signed AND e-mailed to some close friends and family. Mwahaha. I'm such a pusher for my hobby. ^_^