How would you talk about HR669 to an ecologist?

[wolfy-hound]

You can point out that the bill didn't deal with only importing, but also with breeding, selling, trading, and transport. Then point out that non-native species include all commonly held pets, and also all alternative livestock(alpacas, swans, exotic fowl), and the aquaculture industry for food fish, in addition to aquarium fish, and even rats and mice that are commonly used for research and studies.
Then remind him that each of those industries has supporting industries, all with a lot of jobs attached, and if the pet industry alone is $11billion dollars, how much is the total loss... all for a bill that doesn't do anything to stop the most COMMONLY introduced species which are brought in by the government for deliberate release, or accidental as hitchhikers on shipments.
Then remind him what it might be like to not have ANY pets, except cats and dogs, which could actually get added in since THEY are a non-native species. No hamsters, birds, fish tanks, geckos, frogs, mice, nothing. It would be a huge stepping stone for PETA to get ALL animal ownership outlawed eventually, since ALL domestic species of farm animal and food animal are NON-native, and that is Peta's stated goal. So no meat, leather, milk, eggs, butter, etc etc...
That's what I would do. Have the actual bill printed out in front of you, and make a lot of notes so you don't foget anything.