CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! *HR669 DEFEATED!!*

[laurarfl]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Here's an new call to action by USARK:

<http://usark.org/images/newsletter.jpg>



Urgent Letter to the Reptile Nation / HR669

Reptile Nation,

I know that we are facing dangerous and confusing times for the Reptile Community. Our end is upon us if we don't take decisive action to save ourselves. We have the power to decide our own future if we will only wake up and do what needs to be done!!

Thank you to those of you who have taken it upon yourself to take action. I know it has been frustrating. Congress is not set up to be reached by email. We have experienced broken links, constituent filters, blocks and deletions. But our opponents at HSUS lobbying for the bill have faced the same setbacks; although they have shown up in much larger numbers. As for the groups opposing the bill, USARK has generated the most contacts according to congressional staffers. But we must do much better or we will fail.

I just returned from a trip to Capitol Hill. Our lobbyist Tom Wolfe set up meetings with both sides of the Congressional Subcommittee considering HR669. We also did drop in visits to subcommittee member offices to make our case. Support was split down party lines. The Republicans support us and the Democrats oppose us. The Democrat side can win with a straight party line vote. The good news is that since meeting with USARK the Ranking Republican Rep Harry Brown, SC contacted me and has made this bill a priority. He has given us precise instructions on how to most effectively contact the subcommittee.

The Reptile Community must wake up or all will be lost. This is a huge mailing list. Yet only a few are taking action to contact the subcommittee. If everyone on this list did their part we would avalanche the subcommittee and make our point. We could kill HR669. We need to get off our lazy asses and start writing and calling the subcommittee members. The Hearing is on the 23rd of this month. That is all the time we have to save ourselves from being completely destroyed... and make no mistake, if HR669 passes the Reptile Community will be decimated overnight.

Rep Brown's office suggests we focus on direct contact with subcommittee members. That means written letters followed up by phone calls. They are telling us that email and fax are the least effective way to contact members... they get lost and deleted. We need to call and write. They are also saying to send the letters directly to our lobbyist and have him deliver them in mass to the subcommittee members. If you are focusing on other activities STOP until after you complete this important task. Start calling and writing. The Key is IN MASS!!! It has greater impact that way. The time is now to fight for your life. We must convince several Democrats to oppose HR669 to prevail.

This is what we need to do:

1. Write a letter to each member of the subcommittee. Click this link <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.usark.org/uploads/hr669sample.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.usark.org/uploads/hr669sample.pdf</a><!-- m --> <http://usark.org/../uploads/hr669sample.pdf> for the sample letter from our archive and names and phone numbers for committee members.
2. Label each envelope w/ the committee members name and your name and return address.
3. Put all these letters in a large manila envelope and send to: Tom Wolfe, 6246 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22205
4. Call each member of the subcommittee- you will be speaking with staff. Let them know you Oppose HR669. Be civil, but tell them how this will effect you and your family.
5. Check where members are from. If any of the members are your district representatives, or are from your state, make sure they know you are their constituent.

If we are not annihilated by HR669 be prepared to do this over and over again. From now on political action will be needed regularly to maintain our rights. If you have not joined USARK please click the link on the bottom of the page and protect your rights. Please post this letter on every forum and social networking site you can think of.

Sincerely,

Andrew Wyatt

President USARK


usark.org

 

[laurarfl]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

and another:

<http://usark.org/images/newsletter.jpg>



Sample Letter HR669

Send Questions to <!-- e --><a href="mailto[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->

Sample Letter: cut & paste to mail



Subject: No on HR669

Dear Committee Member,

Please oppose HR669. It is a fundamentally flawed Bill written by a radical environmentalist group that seeks to end the ownership and trade of all non-native animals. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to justify the destruction of a Reptile Industry that leads the world in producing and exporting high quality captive bred reptiles. With the stroke of a pen thousands of small American family businesses would be bankrupted overnight. With no quantifiable benefits, what could be the justification to destroy a viable sector of the American economy in a time of hardship?

What will the additional drain on taxpayer dollars be to grow USFWS at unprecedented levels in order to destroy American small business? These are not the "To big to fail" corporate titans, but small family businesses with their entire net worth wrapped up in their Reptile breeding projects and ancillary supporting businesses. A 3 billion dollar a year industry would be wiped out by HR669. Thousands of American families would suffer losing everything.

* Trade in Reptiles and ancillary businesses is estimated to be a 3 billion dollar a year industry.
* More than 9 million Reptiles are exported from the US annually.
* More than 11 million Reptiles are kept as pets in the US. That means 1 in 25 households have 1 or more Reptiles.
* The US accounts for 82% of the worldwide trade in Reptiles.
* At least 500,000 Americans would be negatively impacted by HR669. Thousands of small family businesses would be destroyed.
* There are approximately 4 million boas & pythons, as well as more than 7 million geckos, lizards turtles & other Reptiles in captivity in the US today.
* The United States Association of Reptile Keepers Opposes HR669.

Please oppose HR669! The costs to American Families would be enormous. The benefits are both questionable and non quantifiable. NO ON HR669.

Sincerely,




Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Ch)(NP-Guam)
427 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-5301
202/225-1188 (Washington Tel. #)
202/226-0341 (Washington Fax #)
120 Father Duenas Ave., Suite 107
Hagatna, GUAM 96910
671/477-4272 (District Tel. #)
671/477-2587 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.house.gov/bordallo/IMA/issue.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.house.gov/bordallo/IMA/issue.htm</a><!-- m -->



Henry Brown (R-SC) Ranking Republican
103 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3176 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-3407 (Washington Fax #)
1800 North Oak Street, Suite C
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843/445-6459 (District Tel. #)
843/445-6418 (District Fax #)
5900 Core Avenue, Suite 401
North Charleston, SC 29406
843/747-4175 (District Tel. #)
843/747-4711 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://brown.house.gov/Contact/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://brown.house.gov/Contact/index.html</a><!-- m -->

Lois Capps (D-CA)
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3601 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5632 (Washington Fax #)
2675 N. Ventura Road, Suite 105
Port Hueneme, CA 93041
805/985-6807 (District Tel. #)
805/985-6875 (District Fax #)
301 E Carrillo Street, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805/730-1710 (District Tel. #)
805/730-9153 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml</a><!-- m -->

William Cassidy (R-LA)
506 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3901 (District Tel. #)
202/225-7313 (District Fax #)
5555 Hilton Avenue, Suite 100
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225/929-7711 (District Tel. #)
225/929-7688 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cassidy.house.gov/contact/index.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://cassidy.house.gov/contact/index.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
1032 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-7751 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5629 (Washington Fax #)
51 South University Ave., Suite 319
Provo, UT 84601
801/851-2500 (District Tel. #)
801/851-2509 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://forms.house.gov/chaffetz/contactform.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://forms.house.gov/chaffetz/contactform.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Donna M. Christensen (NP-Virgin Islands) 1510 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202/225-1790 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5517 (Washington Fax #)
Nisky Business Center
Second Floor, Suite 207
St. Croix, VIRGIN ISLANDS 00802
340/778-4408 (District Tel. #)
340/778-8033 (District Fax #)
P.O. Box 5980
Sunny Isle Shopping Center, Space 25
St. Croix, VIRGIN ISLANDS 00823
340/778-5900 (District Tel. #)
340/778-5111 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.house.gov/writerep/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.house.gov/writerep/</a><!-- m -->

Diana L. DeGette (D-CO)
2335 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4431 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5657 (Washington Fax #)
600 Grant Street, Suite 202
Denver, CO 80203
303/844-4988 (District Tel. #)
303/844-4996 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.house.gov/formdegette/zip_auth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.house.gov/formdegette/zip_auth.htm</a><!-- m -->

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (NP Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? American Samoa)
2422 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-8577 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-8757 (Washington Fax #)
P.O. Box, Drawer X
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA 96799
684/633-1372 (District Tel. #)
684/633-2680 (District Fax #)
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->

Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2635 (Washington Tel. #)
202/226-4386 (Washington Fax #)
1640 South Stapley, Suite 215
Mesa, AZ 85204
480/833-0092 (District Tel. #)
480/833-6314 (District Fax #)
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->

John Fleming (R-LA)
1023 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2777 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-8039 (Washington Fax #)
6425 Youree Drive, Suite 350
Shreveport, LA 71105
318/798-2254 (District Tel. #)
318/798-2063 (District Fax #)
Southgate Plaza Shopping Center
1606 Fifth Street
Leesville, LA 71446
337/238-0778 (District Tel. #)
337/238-0566 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://forms.house.gov/fleming/contactform.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://forms.house.gov/fleming/contactform.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Doc Hastings (R-WA)
1203 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4704
202/225-5816 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-3251 (Washington Fax #)
2715 St. Andrews Loop, Suite D
Pasco, WA 99301
509/543-9396 (District Tel. #)
509/545-1972 (District Fax #)
302 East Chestnut Street
Yakima, WA 98901
509/452-3243 (District Tel. #)
509/452-3438 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://hastings.house.gov/ContactForm.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://hastings.house.gov/ContactForm.aspx</a><!-- m -->

Dale E. Kildee (D-MI)
2107 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3611 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-6393 (Washington Fax #)
432 N. Saginaw Street, Suite 410
Bay City, MI 48708
989/891-0990 (District Tel. #)
989/891-0994 (District Fax #)
515 N. Washington Avenue, Suite 401
Saginaw, MI 48607
989/755-8904 (District Tel. #)
989/755-8908 (District Fax #)
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->

Ronald James Kind (D-WI)
1406 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5506 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5739 (Washington Fax #)
205 Fifth Ave. South, Suite 400
La Crosse, WI 54601
608/782-2558 (District Tel. #)
608/782-4588 (District Fax #)
131 South Barstow Street, Suite 301
Eau Claire, WI 54701
715/831-9214 (District Tel. #)
715/831-9272 (District Fax #)
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->

Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. (D-MD)
314 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5311 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-0254 (Washington Fax #)
102 Turpins Lane
Centreville, MD 21617
443/262-9136 (District Tel. #)
443/262-9713 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://forms.house.gov/kratovil/contactform.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://forms.house.gov/kratovil/contactform.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Douglas L. Lamborn (R-CO)
437 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4422 (Washington Tel. #)
202/226-2638 (Washington Fax #)
415 Main Street
Buena Vista, CO 81211
719/520-0055 (District Tel. #)
719/520-0840 (District Fax #)
1271 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719/520-0055 (District Tel. #)
719/520-0840 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://lamborn.house.gov/ZipAuth.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://lamborn.house.gov/ZipAuth.aspx</a><!-- m -->

Frank J. Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
237 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3006
202/225-4671 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-9665 (Washington Fax #)
67/69 Church Street, Kilmer Square
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732/249-8892 (District Tel. #)
732/249-1335 (District Fax #)
504 Broadway
Long Branch, NJ 07740
732/571-1140 (District Tel. #)
732/870-3890 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Pedro R. Pierluisi (NP-Puerto Rico)
1218 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2615 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-2154 (Washington Fax #)
250 Calle Fortaleza Old
San Juan, PUERTO RICO 00901
787/723-6333 (District Tel. #)
787/723-6333 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://forms.house.gov/pierluisi/contactform.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://forms.house.gov/pierluisi/contactform.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Nick Joe Rahall, II (D-WV)
2307 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3452 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-9061 (Washington Fax #)
601 Federal Street, Room 1005
Bluefield, WV 24701
304/325-6222 (District Tel. #)
304/325-0552 (District Fax #)
301 Prince Street
Beckley, WV 25801
304/252-5000 (District Tel. #)
304/252-9803 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rahall.house.gov/?sectionid=9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.rahall.house.gov/?sectionid=9</a><!-- m -->Ã?â??Ã?§iontree=9 <http://www.rahall.house.gov/?sectionid=9Ã?â??Ã?§iontree=9>

Gregorio Sablan (I- Mariana Islands)
423 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2646 (Washington Tel. #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://forms.house.gov/sablan/contactform.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://forms.house.gov/sablan/contactform.shtml</a><!-- m -->

Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
1330 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5456 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5822 (Washington Fax #)
33 Lowell Street
Manchester, NH 03101
603/641-9536 (District Tel. #)
603/641-9561 (District Fax #)
104 Washington Street
Dover, NH 03820
603/743-4813 (District Tel. #)
603/743-5956 (District Fax #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://forms.house.gov/sheaporter/webform/issue_subscribe.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://forms.house.gov/sheaporter/webfo ... scribe.htm</a><!-- m -->


Robert J. Wittman (R-VA)
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4261 (Washington Tel. #)
3504 Plank Road, Suite 203
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
540/548-1086 (District Tel. #)
4904-B George Washington Memorial Hwy.
Yorktown, VA 23692
757/874-6687 (District Tel. #)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://forms.house.gov/wittman/IMA/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://forms.house.gov/wittman/IMA/web ... scribe.htm</a><!-- m -->


Donald E. Young (R-AK)
2111 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5765 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-0425 (Washington Fax #)
101 12th Avenue, #10
Fairbanks, AK 99701-6275
907/456-0210 (District Tel. #)
907/456-0279 (District Fax #)
Peterson Tower Building
510 L Street, Suite 580
Anchorage, AK 99501-1954
907/271-5978 (District Tel. #)
907/271-5950 (District Fax #)
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->

 

[VARNYARD]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Urgent Letter to the Reptile Nation / HR669Friday, April 10, 2009 1:16 AM
From: "United States Association of Reptile Keepers" <[email protected]>To: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->


Urgent Letter to the Reptile Nation / HR669



Reptile Nation,

I know that we are facing dangerous and confusing times for the Reptile Community. Our end is upon us if we don't take decisive action to save ourselves. We have the power to decide our own future if we will only wake up and do what needs to be done!!

Thank you to those of you who have taken it upon yourself to take action. I know it has been frustrating. Congress is not set up to be reached by email. We have experienced broken links, constituent filters, blocks and deletions. But our opponents at HSUS lobbying for the bill have faced the same setbacks; although they have shown up in much larger numbers. As for the groups opposing the bill, USARK has generated the most contacts according to congressional staffers. But we must do much better or we will fail.

I just returned from a trip to Capitol Hill. Our lobbyist Tom Wolfe set up meetings with both sides of the Congressional Subcommittee considering HR669. We also did drop in visits to subcommittee member offices to make our case. Support was split down party lines. The Republicans support us and the Democrats oppose us. The Democrat side can win with a straight party line vote. The good news is that since meeting with USARK the Ranking Republican Rep Harry Brown, SC contacted me and has made this bill a priority. He has given us precise instructions on how to most effectively contact the subcommittee.

The Reptile Community must wake up or all will be lost. This is a huge mailing list. Yet only a few are taking action to contact the subcommittee. If everyone on this list did their part we would avalanche the subcommittee and make our point. We could kill HR669. We need to get off our lazy asses and start writing and calling the subcommittee members. The Hearing is on the 23rd of this month. That is all the time we have to save ourselves from being completely destroyed... and make no mistake, if HR669 passes the Reptile Community will be decimated overnight.

Rep Brown's office suggests we focus on direct contact with subcommittee members. That means written letters followed up by phone calls. They are telling us that email and fax are the least effective way to contact members... they get lost and deleted. We need to call and write. They are also saying to send the letters directly to our lobbyist and have him deliver them in mass to the subcommittee members. If you are focusing on other activities STOP until after you complete this important task. Start calling and writing. The Key is IN MASS!!! It has greater impact that way. The time is now to fight for your life. We must convince several Democrats to oppose HR669 to prevail.

This is what we need to do:

Write a letter to each member of the subcommittee. Click this link <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.usark.org/uploads/hr669sample.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.usark.org/uploads/hr669sample.pdf</a><!-- m --> for the sample letter from our archive and names and phone numbers for committee members.
Label each envelope w/ the committee members name and your name and return address.
Put all these letters in a large manila envelope and send to: Tom Wolfe, 6246 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22205
Call each member of the subcommittee- you will be speaking with staff. Let them know you Oppose HR669. Be civil, but tell them how this will effect you and your family.
Check where members are from. If any of the members are your district representatives, or are from your state, make sure they know you are their constituent.
If we are not annihilated by HR669 be prepared to do this over and over again. From now on political action will be needed regularly to maintain our rights. If you have not joined USARK please click the link on the bottom of the page and protect your rights. Please post this letter on every forum and social networking site you can think of.

Sincerely,

Andrew Wyatt

President USARK

My letter:

Dear Congressional members, thank you for you time in looking at my plea for your attention in this matter. I am a lizard breeder in the United States, my family and I depend on breeding these animals to survive. It is our sole source of income.

I do realize there is a group that is trying to pass a bill that will put my family into hopelessness without an income. They have no regard as to what this bill will cause in the already struggling economy. This would not just effect reptile breeders, but all animals, birds, fish, insects, This bill would effect pet stores, pet supply companies, aquarium companies, cage designers, feed marketers, and even the food industry. The list they claim are approved animals leaves many needed animals off of the market.

The law would stop:
(C), includesÃ?¢ââ??‰â?¬Â
14 (i) any such live, wild species or sub species of mammal, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, insect, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other inverte1brate, and
19 (ii) any viable egg, sperm, gamete, or
20 other reproductive material or offspring
21 thereof;

As with honeybees needed to pollinate our crops, seafood, oysters, craps, crawfish, and even lobsters, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, lovebirds, parrots, canaries, parakeets, all mammals, birds, fish and insects. As well as so many other animals, they claim these animals are harmful and carry diseases like salmonella. However, the list they have as approved animals also can harbor salmonella. And they are just as much a carrier of it. Please do not be fooled by this ploy they are suggesting.

The animals allowed:
(D) does not include any cat (Felis catus),
8 cattle or oxen (Bos taurus), chicken (Gallus
9 gallus domesticus), dog (Canis lupus familiaris),
10 donkey or ass (Equus asinus), domesticated
11 members of the family Anatidae (geese), duck
12 (domesticated Anas spp.), goat (Capra aegagrus
13 hircus), goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus),
14 horse (Equus caballus), llama (Lama glama),
15 mule or hinny (Equus caballus x E. asinus), pig
16 or hog (Sus scrofa domestica), domesticated varieties of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), or
18 sheep (Ovis aries), or any other species or variety of species that is determined by the Secretary to be common and clearly domesticated.

All of these animals can carry salmonella, along with many fruits and vegetables. This is the part they are not telling you, and has just as much fact as this supposed law they want to pass.

The truth is, there are laws on the books that cover importing, exporting and breeding animals. We donÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t need to impact the lives of so many Americans by passing another law that will have another gouge to our already hurting economy.

Please think about how many people that this law will effect if passed without a second thought.

Thank you for your time,
Best regards, Bobby Hill,
Owner, Varnyard Herps, Inc.

 

[Beasty]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Great letter Bobby!
I'm glad there has been more interest in this subject.

Here's another post with video links and instructions.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://utahherp.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1335" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://utahherp.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1335</a><!-- m -->

 

[crimsonrazac]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Has any one seen this? <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDV5tRl1oX0&feature=channel_page" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDV5tRl1 ... annel_page</a><!-- m -->

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Oh sorry - I made a new post regarding what the USArk.org said (a repost of what Lauren said, by accident)

That's great that more people are getting involved now!

 

[alewis0890]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Yes more people are great... but look at the HIGH rollers, tho im not a fan.. check out horse racing and dog racing out... these guys have TONS of money. Foreign animals are cash cows. They get these spanish horses and so on... well they are going to have a HUGE problem as well, and with them already having money should help out alot if they know how to use it. I personally think theres to much to risk with the bill for congress. They claim they want to FIX the economy.... this is the COMPLETE opposite of fixing... theres too many people that have lifes work and savings dumped into not just the reptile industry but all animals. My opinion is that this bill will collapse. pet-co petsmart small businesses (which are supposed to be helped out!) and breeders from the life work mark, all the way down to the recreational mark... Call me what ever but this has gotta flop... theres no way they can put ALL of these people down the drain and cover dirt over them.

thats just my opinion, I called my congressman and representative, and the receptionist had no clue what the bill even was, I had to enlighten them.

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Yes more people are great... but look at the HIGH rollers, tho im not a fan.. check out horse racing and dog racing out... these guys have TONS of money. Foreign animals are cash cows. They get these spanish horses and so on... well they are going to have a HUGE problem as well, and with them already having money should help out alot if they know how to use it. I personally think theres to much to risk with the bill for congress. They claim they want to FIX the economy.... this is the COMPLETE opposite of fixing... theres too many people that have lifes work and savings dumped into not just the reptile industry but all animals. My opinion is that this bill will collapse. pet-co petsmart small businesses (which are supposed to be helped out!) and breeders from the life work mark, all the way down to the recreational mark... Call me what ever but this has gotta flop... theres no way they can put ALL of these people down the drain and cover dirt over them.

thats just my opinion, I called my congressman and representative, and the receptionist had no clue what the bill even was, I had to enlighten them.

The thing is, do these businesses even know what is happening? I spoke with my vet today and she had no clue that this is happening. I think everyone needs to reach out to their local businesses and suggest that they do their part too. I am assembling a list to contact for NJ and NYC, in an attempt to get these people to do their part too.

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

New Email from USArk.org

Here is a step by step video done by Ralph Davis of USARK on how to most effectively fight HR669. This is what the Folks on Capitol Hill suggested we do when USARK President Andrew Wyatt and USARK Lobbyist Tom Wolfe met with key figures from the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife... including Ranking Republican Representative Harry Brown's office. Old fashion letter writing is still one of the most effective ways to lobby congress. Marshal Myers from PIJAC agreed; real letters are irreplaceable as a tool to lobby congress. If you are doing other things to try and reach the committee thats great. We want to pursue all efforts to defeat HR669. The NoHR669.com campaign is commendable. USARK supports it... but you need to write your letters first. There is no easy way out... there just isn't. WRITE YOUR LETTERS!

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Dear [Congressman/woman],

Please oppose HR669. It is a fundamentally flawed Bill written by a radical environmentalist group that seeks to end the ownership and trade of all non-native animals. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to justify the destruction of the $48 billion Pet industry, specifically the $3 billion Reptile Industry, which leads the world in producing and exporting high quality captive bred reptiles. With the stroke of a pen thousands of small American family businesses would be bankrupted overnight. Additionally, large businesses such as Petco and Petsmart, which provide jobs and also substantial tax dollars, will be negatively impacted by the passage of this Bill. In fact, it would encourage underground sales of exotic species, which would prevent the government from receiving tax revenues from a viable sector at a time when unemployment and bailout bills are running rampant. With no quantifiable benefits, what could be the justification to destroy a substantial sector of the American economy in a time of hardship?

Moreover, this Bill would have too great of an impact on a large percentage of the population. More than 11 million Reptiles are kept as pets in the US and 1 in 25 households have 1 or more Reptiles, for example. And this excludes all those other non-native animals that are kept as pets. I personally have 3 chinchillas, 4 ferrets, 2 snakes, 2 bearded dragons, and one Argentine blue tegu. I cannot imagine a future without these animals. They comprise a significant portion of my life, and take the place of children. I would NEVER release them into the wild, and I donÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t know anyone else who would either. I have always provided the best care for these animals, spending over $3,000 in the past year alone at my vetÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s office. In no way are these animals lacking in any way. I have provided enclosures which recreate their native habitats and are suited to their individual sizes. I spend over $400 a month on food and extras for them as well.

Additionally, the captive breeding and trade of some species have kept them from being extinct. Think of the silkworm, for example. The silkworm originates from Asia but is extinct in the wild. However, the USA has a domestic silkworm industry that prevents total extinction of them.
I believe that this Bill exists as a result of current issues with Burmese Pythons in the Everglades, as well as other potentially invasive species that have been found in the wild, such as the Asian Beetle. Please take into consideration that out of the 11 million reptile owners in the US, only a few account for the problem s with Burmese Pythons in the wild. Instead of punishing everybody for their negligent behavior, take an alternative approach and specify which species are being released into the wild and requiring licensing to own them.

This Bill is fundamentally flawed because it attempts to put a blanket over a very complex and intricate problem. It is very extremist in nature, taking a Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??guilty until proven innocentÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã? approach, which isnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t even in line with the ideals presented by our own Constitution! I think that all animals should be EXCLUDED from being considered injurious species until PROVEN with scientific evidence to be such harmful species. Additionally, Bill HR 669 puts forth an unrealistic timeline to achieve what is intended by the Bill in its current form.

In conclusion, please OPPOSE Bill HR 669! I, along with The United States Association of Reptile Keepers, and PIJAC, OPPOSE Bill HR669 too. The costs to American Families would be enormous. The benefits are both questionable and non quantifiable. Again, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that banning the import, sale and trade of any of these animals will have any positive effect on the economy, environment, or human or animal species health. NO ON HR669.

That was my letter...for the most part...My bf and I just spent two hours printing and stuffing envelopes to send to Tom Wolfe, US Ark's lobbyist.

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!


FANTASTIC NEWS FROM USARK!!! KEEP "EM COMING!!!! The deadline is April 21st!!!

URGENT Reminder HR669

I am Happy to report that the REPTILE NATION has awoken!!! Hundreds of letters began to pour into Tom Wolfe's office yesterday. Keep it up we need thousands more. The sleeping Giant is awake and Leading the charge in OPPOSING HR669! But we need to keep the Giant awake and get him to deliver the death blow to HR669.

If you have written your letters to the Committee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife opposing HR669... Thank you!!!-- now go get your friends and colleagues to do the same!

If you have NOT written your letters.... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!! We are running out of time. All letters need to be to Tom Wolfe's office by Tuesday April 21st. That means your final opportunity will be to OVERNIGHT a package to him NO LATER THAN MONDAY! Get it DONE!!!

ALL LETTERS MUST BE TO TOM WOLFE'S OFFICE BY TUESDAY APRIL 21st!!!!!

REMEMBER the 3 most effective way to influence the Subcommittee and Congress as a whole:

1. Personal appearances in Congressional offices.
2. Real Letters delivered in mass.
3. Phone Calls.

 

[DaRealJoker]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

I'm a Canadian, and wonder how this affects my Country? I can see where it is a problem for Americans and wonder how I can help. I know none of my e-mails to the American Gov. will be even looked at so is there anything you know that I can do?

 

[VARNYARD]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Please join the good fight guys:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rallycongress.com/no-hr-669/1733/tell-congress-no-to-h-r-669/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.rallycongress.com/no-hr-669/ ... o-h-r-669/</a><!-- m -->

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Guys - please make your calls today!!!

USArk.org has delivered over 40,000 letters to Congress from the Reptile Nation. Now it's time to CALL and bombard their phone lines!! See below!

Full Court Press HR669!!

The Reptile Nation is a bunch of Grass Roots Warriors! The letter count now tops 40,000 letters. The phone calls have clogged the Congressional phone lines. We are the smallest constituent group and we have dwarfed the response of the pet industry and all the other affected industries combined. The Reptile Nation has turned Capitol Hill upside down with phone calls and buried them under an avalanche of letters!!!

We have been focused on the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife.... because that is where the fight is! USARK has led the charge and the Reptile Nation has had an impact never seen before! Others may try and take credit for your victory when it comes, but no one can take this from those that have worked so hard to force the Subcommittee to take notice. It will belong to the Reptile Nation.

We are now in the 11th hour. I know that many of you have worked tirelessly to make this happen. You have my gratitude and respect. We need one more big push to KILL HR669. USARK will not compromise on this fundamentally flawed Bill. Our enemies at the Defenders of Wildlife have been so threatened by what we have done that they sent out a slick propaganda piece to influence the Subcommittee, but it is to little to late. They are doomed to be crushed under the weight of the Reptile Nation.

I need one more day of intense calling to Subcommittee offices. Get everyone you can think of to call and OPPOSE HR669. Call all day long. Overwhelm Capitol Hill again! They are unbelieving that we have been able to engineer this feat, and are destroying their Bill. MAKE YOUR CALLS!

With the Greatest Respect,

Andrew Wyatt

President USARK



To make it easier here are just the names and the phone number of each member and what to say. You can copy and paste them into a word document and print it up.

1. Give your name.

2. Remind them that they are on the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs Oceans & Wildlife.

3. Tell them you want to put on record your Strong Opposition to HR669.

4. Thank them for listening to your concerns.


Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Ch)(NP-Guam)
202/225-1188

Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
202/225-2726

Henry Brown (R-SC)
202/225-3176

Lois Capps (D-CA)
202/225-3601

William Cassidy (R-LA)
202/225-3901

Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
202/225-7751

Donna M. Christensen (NP-Virgin Islands)
202/225-1790

Diana L. DeGette (D-CO)
202/225-4431

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (NP Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? American Samoa)
202/225-8577

Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
202/225-2635

John Fleming (R-LA)
202/225-2777

Doc Hastings (R-WA)
202/225-5816

Dale E. Kildee (D-MI)
202/225-3611

Ronald James Kind (D-WI)
202/225-5506

Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. (D-MD)
202/225-5311

Douglas L. Lamborn (R-CO)
202/225-4422

Frank J. Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
202/225-4671

Pedro R. Pierluisi (NP-Puerto Rico)
202/225-2615

Nick Joe Rahall, II (D-WV)
202/225-3452

Gregorio Sablan (I- Mariana Islands)
202/225-2646

Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
202/225-5456

Robert J. Wittman (R-VA)
202/225-4261

Donald E. Young (R-AK)
202/225-5765

 

[DaRealJoker]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

once again, what can a Canadian do to help? I understand that this is going to affect us here in Canada as much as in the States, but don't know who to write. I see that problems are going to get bigger with import/export aswell as haveing to pay more and look further for a critter, which is sad. Can we Canadians help in any way?

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

Hmm ... not sure. You should call USArk or Pijac and ask them if there is anything. I would say that you could right letters as well, and put forth your concerns...

 

[ashesc212]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

So I started making phone calls and the first one was to my Congressman (Frank Pallone jr.). It was very strange...they answered right away. I'm not sure if the staff member actually took down my name or not. - anyway, he made me list out reasons why I don't want it passed lol! It was an interrogation! I pulled it off, none-the-less.

Anyway - the fact that they answered right away tells me that NO ONE is making the calls and EVERYONE who owns a reptile should be!

 

[DaveDragon]

Re: CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BAN REPTILES! Not joke!

VICTORY over HR669!!!



WE DID IT FOLKS!!!! Victory over HR669! You can thank yourselves and the Reptile Nation, for a hard fought Victory! Our nearly 50,000 grassroots letters and 1,000s of phone calls to the offices of the subcommittee members clearly prevailed at today's Insular Affairs Subcommittee hearing on HR 669. HR 669 in it's current form is finished. For anything to go forward it MUST be re-written from the ground up....and USARK will have a seat at the table along with other stake holders.

Delegate Faleomavega from Samoa said, "The letter and phone campaign hit the subcommittee like a BUZZ SAW". Harry Burroughs, of the subcommittee staff said, "I haven't seen a letter writing campaign like this in 30 years! You should be proud of yourselves." Take heart in the fact that the Reptile Nation stopped HR669 in it's tracks!!

We also need to thank Congressman Henry Brown, SC for helping us to focus our fight on the Subcommittee as opposed to the full House of Representatives. He is the one who instructed us to write real letters to be truly effective. He said emails are fine if that is all you can manage, but they can be filtered and deleted. There is no denying the weight of thousands of paper letters from American citizens. The Reptile Nation was responsible for 49,229 letters delivered to the Subcommittee in less than two weeks. Congressman Brown's staff made sure they all got in the door. 38,000 of those letters will be entered into the permanent record. Thank you my friends!

Credit should also be given to Bill Martin, a witness who testified at the hearing. He is the President of Blue Ridge Aquatics, a large multi-state Tilapia farming operation. They farm Tilapia as a food fish. He had some serious problems with the bill and the ear of much of the committee. His plain talk of how this bill would destroy hundreds of families hit home. What they do and the impact this bill would have on them parallels the plight of the Reptile Nation.

Senior Democrat staff from the House Committee on Natural Resources advised Subcommittee Chair Madeleine Bordallo that if she wants something to go forward she will have to go back to square one and draft a new bill. Then have another subcommittee hearing. When and if she does, USARK will be there to represent the interests of the Reptile Nation!! They probably will try, and that will be our challenge for another day. But Today VICTORY is SWEET!...... Celebrate today and rest, because tomorrow we must get ready to fight again.

Thank you Reptile Nation! Thank you Tom Wolfe. Thank you everyone who did their part.

Stay tuned... This fight has only begun!

USARK

A note from Tom Wolfe:

"The good news is, USARK engineered a significant victory which caught the attention of the entire membership of the Subcommittee and their staffs.

The bad news is this is just the first step in the process. Members of the Reptile Nation should be jubilant with this victory. However, our success should be measured, because the proponents of HR 669 will be back soon with another version of the same legislation. They will not rest, so we must not rest either.

Take satisfaction in a job well done and a victory well deserved, but know we all must rise up again to fight on because the battle has just begun!"
_________________
________________
NOHR669.com

 

[Mvskokee]

im very glad

 

[VARNYARD]

Awesome news!! :woot