Warning: S373

[Melicious]

Take Action Against S373 Today!


Senator Bill Nelson of Florida has Proposed a FEDERAL BAN on ALL Pythons. S373 is a Very Simple Bill that calls for no Appropriations (funding). That makes it Dangerous because it would be so easy to pass without any real consideration. We must take Action NOW to try and STOP this Bill from passing as written.

What it is:

S373 is a Federal Ban that would effect ALL pythons in EVERY State.
This Bill is an effort to bypass the established process of 'Rule Change' to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act that was initiated by the South Florida Water Management District last year. This process is moving into it's second year and is ongoing. USARK warned last April at the 'Herp Summit' in Chicago that a political move was afoot to go around the normal 'Rule Change' process. Although ridiculed by some as "Not Possible", S373 proves that prediction true.
This is an issue regarding Burmese Pythons living feral in South Florida. No other species. No where else. Other pythons have nothing to do with feral populations of Burmese Pythons in South Florida.
S373 has been moved into the Water & Wildlife Sub- Committee. It will be heard there and if given a favorable rating move back to the full Environment & Public Works Committee. (see contact info below)
What it isn't:

This is NOT HR669 the other Federal Bill that we have been campaigning against.
There is NO Scientific Evidence to support the premise that passing S373 will have any impact whatsoever on the Burmese Python situation that is confined to the Southern tip of Florida.
There is absolutely NO Evidence of any kind to support that this is a problem anywhere outside of South Florida.
What USARK is doing:

USARK is working with Scientists on the ground in South Florida and throughout the SE to understand the real dynamics of what has occurred with the Burmese Python. Not the hype but the Hard Facts. During their annual conference South Eastern Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (SE PARC) established an Invasive Species Task Force to look into these questions. ALL of the Best Minds on the Subject from all the top universities and government agencies were on hand. Dr. Warren Booth, PhD Invasive Species Biologist & Andrew Wyatt, both of USARK, played a leadership role in the formation of the Task Force.
Shawn Heflick is leading USARK's participation in a PBS Documentary arranged by Tom Crutchfield/ Shawn Heflick and Hosted by Nigel Marven to publicize the truth behind the Burmese Python & other potential Invasive Herps in South Florida.
USARK is not only working chest deep in the Everglades, but we are actively working to influence key personnel in the US House and Senate, as well as the National Park Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. From the Everglades to Washington DC we are working hard on behalf of our community and industry to assure that if any legislation is passed, it will be fair and in the best interests of the Herp Community. We have No other conflicting allegiances.
USARK has introduced State Legislation including Non- Release & Escape Prevention provisions providing safety measures at the State level.
What Can You Do Today to STOP S373?

Join USARK's Reptile Nation!There is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights!
Call, write, email & fax the Sponsor and the Sub-Committee for S373. (contact info & sample letter below)
Be Polite & Professional. If you can't do this don't bother because it will damage our efforts.
***Forward this to everyone on your email list, post it on every forum/ social networking site.
When you have finished with the steps above, send an email to senate373@yahoo.com with 'No on S373' in the Subject Line so that USARK can track the number of responses.
Sample Letter (cut & paste):

Subject: NO on S373

I oppose S373 as written. The Burmese Python issue is a South Florida issue not a National one. There is No credible evidence to show that these animals can exist north of Lake Okeechobee. Many different species of Pythons have been imported into the US over the last 50 years. The only pythons that have been established have been Burmese Pythons, but only in South Florida; no where else. No evidence exists anywhere to suggest that Banning all Pythons will have any positive impact on the effected area in the southern tip of Florida.

Banning all pythons nationwide would have a devastating effect on an already troubled economy. It would destroy thousands of hardworking American families and small businesses. Not just the breeders and dealers but hobbyists, dry goods, equipment manufacturers, food providers, shippers, trade shows, hotels and restaurants. To overlook the crushing blow this would have to an entire segment of the economy is irresponsible.

(add what S373 would mean to you and your family)

Sincerely,

(signature line)



Contacts:

Senator Bill Nelson

716 Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm





Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI
Hart Senate Office Building, Room 502, Washington, D.C. 20510
email: form at http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/ phone: 202-224-2921Fax: 202-228-6362

Tom Udall, D-NM
B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
email: form at http://tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
phone: (202) 224-6621

Jeff Merkley, D-Ore
SDB-40B Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
email: form at http://merkley.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm phone: (202) 228-3997fax: 202-2283997

Mike Crapo, Ranking Member, R-Idaho
239 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510
email: form at http://crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
phone: (202) 224-6142fax: 202-228-1375

John Barrasso, R-WY
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
email: form at http://barrasso.senate.gov/public/in...Us.ContactForm
phone: (202) 224-6441
tollfree: (866) 235-9553

Lamar Alexander, R-TN
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
email: form at http://alexander.senate.gov/public/i...n=Contact.Home
phone: (202) 224-4944fax: 202-228-3398






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[Slim]

The honorable Bill Nelson from FL couldn't find his own rear end with a map and a flashlight. He also wouldn't know a Python from a Coral Snake. Typical grandstanding gesture to keep the gereactric vote in South FL, cause it's a well know fact that wild FL swamp Burms eat old people.

[DutchHerp]

Phew, I sent the message to all of the names up there...

[temec]

I would send a message... but you usually need to be 18+ to sign a potition or send letters for different political reasons... if i can remember.. can any1 second this info?? if its false ill start something around my city/school

[nixer]

I would send a message... but you usually need to be 18+ to sign a potition or send letters for different political reasons... if i can remember.. can any1 second this info?? if its false ill start something around my city/school

you dont have to be 18 to tell them send letters or eamils to them.

[kc261]

You absolutely CAN send a letter, even if you are not yet 18. I know there have been instances in the past when letter writing campaigns mostly by children have been influential.

ANYONE can send a letter, even if you are not a citizen of the US. I would recommend being careful that you do not misrepresent yourself.

Signing petitions is a little different; I think it may depend on the individual petition and what exactly it says.

[Melicious]

Dear Senator,

I hope you are well. I am not so well this evening due to your desire to instate this particular bill. I hope that you have the time to read, because it's important that you understand the ramifications of a bill such as this.

Over the past twenty plus years the exotics industry has begun to grow a great deal. Breeders now produce captive bred and hatched animals, and the removal of these animals from the wild has been reduced. MOST of these breeders are well-respected in the herpetological community, and they are looked to for important information and good husbandry practices. However; just as it is with any animal breeding world, there are those out there that have given this industry a bad name.

Before you look to the breeders, first you must look at your pet stores, such as PETCO and PETSMART. Their husbandry is sub par, their animals normally have mites, respiratory infections, etc. The lives of these animals is left in the hands of uneducated high school kids who don’t know an under tank heater from a pair of hemostats. Before you punish men and women who base their entire existence upon selling these animals, look to your large corporations for their lack of information given to their customers.

There are hundreds of reptile breeders, who specifically deal with the larger boids and pythons. The families boidae and pythonidae contain many species and sub species that do not reach lengths of more than ten feet. If your bill encompasses JUST pythons, as opposed to those reptiles that could potentially be detrimental to the environment, you ostracize a great deal of your constituents. Ball pythons, for example, usually do not top lengths of six feet, they’re non-aggressive, and are wonderful beginner pets for people who enjoy reptiles and may be allergic to cats and/or dogs.

My suggestion to you, and I believe this is already the case, is to pass legislation that requires a permit for any snake in the boidae and pythonidae families that reach in excess of 10 or more feet. In addition to that, you could pass legislation that would require ALL pet stores to give full disclosure of information on these larger snakes.

In reference to Interstate Transport: Before you ban Interstate Transport, think about the many, many lives you’d be putting into jeopardy by doing so. Breeders travel to multiple reptile exposés to make a living and continue spreading the respect and good husbandry of these animals. We’re already in the middle of an economic crisis; why try and tote an irrational piece of legislation that would ruin lives when you can just as easily save lives, both human and reptile.

Senator, I implore you to rethink your action. You could offer so much more than fear and adolescent response. You could save the environment you wish to save, animals that need to be saved, and be seen as a respectable man. Please do not follow your party’s current line of fear and panic. Be reasonable, and you can find many more doors open for you that way.

Thank you for reading,

Melanie Ryan Seals

[Lucas339]

i sent him a huge message a while back and got this response:

Dear Mr. Jennings:

Thank you for writing me regarding management of invasive species, such as the Burmese python snake, in the Everglades National Park.

Biologists with Everglades National Park confirmed a breeding population of Burmese python in the Florida Everglades in 2003 and speculate that their introduction is most likely the result of released pets. The presence of this snake threatens some 68 endangered species that live in the fragile Everglades ecosystem.

Python populations have since been discovered in Big Cypress National Preserve to the north, Miami’s water management areas to the northeast, Key Largo to the southeast, and many State parks, municipalities, and public and private lands in the region.

Further, new climate maps developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) suggest that Burmese pythons and other giant snakes are highly adaptable to new environments and could thrive in climactic conditions previously thought prohibitive.

I appreciate your informed policy suggestions on this issue and will keep them in mind. Please do not hesitate to contact me again.

i'd tried to make my email focus on the fact that this will cause a huge number of people to lose their jobs and creat more economic issues. looks like a form response to me though.

[snakemastercanada]

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida has Proposed a FEDERAL BAN on ALL Pythons. S373 is a Very Simple Bill that calls for no Appropriations (funding). That makes it Dangerous because it would be so easy to pass without any real consideration. We must take Action NOW to try and STOP this Bill from passing as written.
What it is:
S373 is a Federal Ban that would effect ALL pythons in EVERY State.
This Bill is an effort to bypass the established process of 'Rule Change' to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act that was initiated by the South Florida Water Management District last year. This process is moving into it's second year and is ongoing. USARK warned last April at the 'Herp Summit' in Chicago that a political move was afoot to go around the normal 'Rule Change' process. Although ridiculed by some as "Not Possible", S373 proves that prediction true.
This is an issue regarding Burmese Pythons living feral in South Florida. No other species. No where else. Other pythons have nothing to do with feral populations of Burmese Pythons in South Florida.
S373 has been moved into the Water & Wildlife Sub- Committee. It will be heard there and if given a favorable rating move back to the full Environment & Public Works Committee. (see contact info below)
What it isn't:
This is NOT HR669 the other Federal Bill that we have been campaigning against.
There is NO Scientific Evidence to support the premise that passing S373 will have any impact whatsoever on the Burmese Python situation that is confined to the Southern tip of Florida.
There is absolutely NO Evidence of any kind to support that this is a problem anywhere outside of South Florida.
What USARK is doing:
USARK is working with Scientists on the ground in South Florida and throughout the SE to understand the real dynamics of what has occurred with the Burmese Python. Not the hype but the Hard Facts. During their annual conference South Eastern Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (SE PARC) established an Invasive Species Task Force to look into these questions. ALL of the Best Minds on the Subject from all the top universities and government agencies were on hand. Dr. Warren Booth, PhD Invasive Species Biologist & Andrew Wyatt, both of USARK, played a leadership role in the formation of the Task Force.
Shawn Heflick is leading USARK's participation in a PBS Documentary arranged by Tom Crutchfield/ Shawn Heflick and Hosted by Nigel Marven to publicize the truth behind the Burmese Python & other potential Invasive Herps in South Florida.
USARK is not only working chest deep in the Everglades, but we are actively working to influence key personnel in the US House and Senate, as well as the National Park Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. From the Everglades to Washington DC we are working hard on behalf of our community and industry to assure that if any legislation is passed, it will be fair and in the best interests of the Herp Community. We have No other conflicting allegiances.
USARK has introduced State Legislation including Non- Release & Escape Prevention provisions providing safety measures at the State level.
What Can You Do Today to STOP S373?
Join USARK's Reptile Nation!There is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights!
Call, write, email & fax the Sponsor and the Sub-Committee for S373. (contact info & sample letter below)
Be Polite & Professional. If you can't do this don't bother because it will damage our efforts.
***Forward this to everyone on your email list, post it on every forum/ social networking site.
When you have finished with the steps above, send an email to senate373@yahoo.com with 'No on S373' in the Subject Line so that USARK can track the number of responses.
Sample Letter (cut & paste):
Subject: NO on S373
I oppose S373 as written. The Burmese Python issue is a South Florida issue not a National one. There is No credible evidence to show that these animals can exist north of Lake Okeechobee. Many different species of Pythons have been imported into the US over the last 50 years. The only pythons that have been established have been Burmese Pythons, but only in South Florida; no where else. No evidence exists anywhere to suggest that Banning all Pythons will have any positive impact on the effected area in the southern tip of Florida.
Banning all pythons nationwide would have a devastating effect on an already troubled economy. It would destroy thousands of hardworking American families and small businesses. Not just the breeders and dealers but hobbyists, dry goods, equipment manufacturers, food providers, shippers, trade shows, hotels and restaurants. To overlook the crushing blow this would have to an entire segment of the economy is irresponsible.
(add what S373 would mean to you and your family)
Sincerely,
(signature line)

Contacts:
Senator Bill Nelson
716 Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183
http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm


Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI
Hart Senate Office Building, Room 502, Washington, D.C. 20510
email: form at http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/ phone: 202-224-2921Fax: 202-228-6362

Tom Udall, D-NM
B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
email: form at http://tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
phone: (202) 224-6621

Jeff Merkley, D-Ore
SDB-40B Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
email: form at http://merkley.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm phone: (202) 228-3997fax: 202-2283997

Mike Crapo, Ranking Member, R-Idaho
239 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510
email: form at http://crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
phone: (202) 224-6142fax: 202-228-1375

John Barrasso, R-WY
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
email: form at http://barrasso.senate.gov/public/in...Us.ContactForm
phone: (202) 224-6441
tollfree: (866) 235-9553

Lamar Alexander, R-TN
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
email: form at http://alexander.senate.gov/public/i...n=Contact.Home
phone: (202) 224-4944fax: 202-228-3398

[anatess]

Webmail sent.

My last paragraph says that S373 is an ignorant bill. And that he needs to study the Ball Pythons before he moves forward with it, not only for the sake of the ball python owners but for his image as a United States Senator representing MY state of Florida.