Congressional Hearing Banning Nonnative Species April 23 Action Needed

beefsteak said:
I was wondering how this might affect other countries?
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My guess is the biggest immediate affect would be in what animals are available for export from the U.S. and what animals will be imported into the U.S.

It could also affect the breeding of salamanders for valuable research.
 
Here is the current status of HR 669:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.669:

It has been making its way through the subcommittees and is scheduled to be presented when congress starts back up April 23rd. It should be noted here that its predecessor HR 6311 is listed as dead, however only because it never made it to a vote on the agenda.

I had not read the updated version of the bill prior to my previous post. Interestingly enough, the language about existing exotic animals in captivity has been removed and a short list of common domesticated animals has been added. Detailed preliminary lists are not available at the time of this writing, however may be available as early as next week.
 
SludgeMunkey said:
Here is the current status of HR 669:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.669:
It has been making its way through the subcommittees and is scheduled to be presented when congress starts back up April 23rd. It should be noted here that its predecessor HR 6311 is listed as dead, however only because it never made it to a vote on the agenda.
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That's pretty interesting. If the law passes and I want to petition to have an animal listed as allowed I'll have to pay a fee for the work that needs to be done to assess the threat of that animal. Since most of what we keep is relatively rare compared to other animals that might be imported the process would price us out of the hobby.
 
Yup.


Pretty upsetting, no?

I suspect there is less to worry about this in its current form to us, the hobbyist, however we have seen blanket laws abused before as anyone in California can attest to.

I guess the best we can do is place our orders now, eh?
 
I should have explained better, I was try to state that it is somewhat like making a previously legal law illegal. Just wanted to point out that it's wrong to make this law, when people already have these pets. Because like you said, if they want to move from state to state euthanasia may be the only option and that's terrible to think about. I apologize though for any confusing writing i did. I just hope sending letters to our Reps will help.
 
Wouldn't this have a devastating effect on the pet industry? eg. insect breeders, aquarium and accessories
manufacturers and pet stores.
 
I am pretty sure it will.

Why buy equipment when it is illegal to buy the pets?
 
There were two tables set up with petitions about this proposal today at the All Md. reptile show. They mentioned that it was to close to the presentation for the representatives to receive mail that goes through the post office to D.C. Mail to congress goes through special screening. At this point hand carried petitions, letters, phone calls, and emails are being advised.


It's my guess that this proposal won't pass but the ground work is being laid for another proposal.
 
I hope this nonsense doesn't pass. Either do it scientifically or leave it alone.
 
Someone was telling today that they were pushing for the exact same thing up here in canada.
 
The government seems to expand each day does it not? Of course the solution to the problem is government, right?
Lets outlaw this animal, or this object, where does it end? I hope there is a good 535 job openings in D.C. soon. :mad:
 
Here you can email your representatives with just a few clicks!! If you haven't done anything yet, you can help here in less than a minute or two. Thanks, Michael!

"This site gives you some basics about the proposed new animal import and animal ban legislation. It is a little late to post letters through the regular mail."
http://www.nohr669.com
 
josh1990 said:
The government seems to expand each day does it not? Of course the solution to the problem is government, right?
Lets outlaw this animal, or this object, where does it end? I hope there is a good 535 job openings in D.C. soon. :mad:
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One of the nicer attributes of our community is the ability we have shown over the years to discuss issues without bringing our political views to bear. Personally I can't see how you are getting "boo big government" out of this. This proposed piece of legislation is the fruit of a distinct political lobby in the US - it's not "the government's" doing. It's the action of some of the political representatives that were elected by the US people to represent them, who obviously feel that doing this is part of why they were voted into office (or they are succumbing to the lobby). If a person has a problem with the actions of a political representative, would it not be more constructive to help campaign against that representative's re-election, instead of blaming "big government"?

Living in Texas I hear very similar words to yours every day. What amazes me most about this collective short circuit that people have is that they seem to think that they had nothing to do with electing the people in government who are making the decisions they don't like and/or their representatives are not responsible for this. If the latter is the case, then lobby your own representative on this issue, since only they have the power to vote against it. Would that not be more helpful to the problem than decrying "big government"?
 
When I got home from work last night, there was actually a message on my answering machine from the secretary of Rep. Molinaro's office (NY). It said they read the letter and as it is federal legislation he won't be voting FOR it (kind of funny). I don't know, I just wrote all the reps that came up for my zip code. I guess I know nothing about the basics of my own government. But at least I know one that will call you!
 
John,
I just feel some unease in the federal government telling me what animals I can have for a pet.
I think we can both agree this is sheer nonsense coming from a certain few that have been influenced by PACs. There is no scientific basis to it. I think such matters should be studied by experts before politicans pass legislation.

otterwoman,
I am glad someone at least took the time to return your call.

Josh
 
For what it's worth, I sent off some letters to representatives last weekend. I have heard a rumor that this legislation probably won't make it to the House because the Sponsor is from Guam and thus has lower priority to bring bills to the committee.

I've been reading a discussion about this bill led by a person who is in favor of a modified version of the present bill, and thinks it has a good chance of eventually passing. Upon hearing his views, I have a bit more respect for the necessity of regulating imported species. There certainly is a scientific basis for the need to curtail the species that come in, and there is a reasonable prospect that the decisions mandated by this bill (or the next versions of it) will be made on the basis of science. There's still a lot of uncertainty about how it will all play out, though.
 
josh1990 said:
John,
I just feel some unease in the federal government telling me what animals I can have for a pet.
I think we can both agree this is sheer nonsense coming from a certain few that have been influenced by PACs. There is no scientific basis to it. I think such matters should be studied by experts before politicans pass legislation.
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Blame the individual politicians responsible for it and do something about them then. I am sorry but I do not see how you can blame the government for reviewing and passing or rejecting new laws. That's part of why the government exists.
 
josh1990 said:
John,
I just feel some unease in the federal government telling me what animals I can have for a pet.
I think we can both agree this is sheer nonsense coming from a certain few that have been influenced by PACs. There is no scientific basis to it. I think such matters should be studied by experts before politicans pass legislation.
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Agree 100%
 
I don`t think we are seeing eye to eye on this issue and that is fine, I respect your opinion.
I try to do the best I can, vote or write to my rep. in the house. I`am not blaming the fedral government here, those politicans have simply expanded the size of the fedral government.I do do blame politicans for being driven by an agenda or not understanding the issues. I do respect your opinion above all and think that it will be best just to share my opinion on just the issues on hand from now on.
Did I mention how much I enjoy your axolotl photo?

Josh
 
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