[Killietalk] If you have not seen this please take a READ IT ALL, This is important - Senate EPW Hearing- HR669/S373 Reptile Ban!

[Luke Colliton <lukeysan at comcast_net>]

*** THEY ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT REPTILES **

WARNING: Senate EPW Hearing- HR669/S373 Reptile Ban!

*The Senate Committee on the Environment & Public Works (EPW) is 
planning a hearing for the 8th of July following the holiday break. The 
Committee Chair is Senator Barbara Boxer (D) of California. It will 
actually be a joint hearing in front of two subcommittees; Senate Water 
& Wildlife and the EPW Oversight. The topic for discussion will be 
Threats to Native Wildlife Species. We believe this will be a precursor 
to the introduction of a new Senate version of HR669. S373 will also 
likely be discussed. Although we do not want to assume her position, 
Senator Boxer has strong historical ties to the Animal Rights and 
Environmental movements that are pushing for this hearing. *

USARK will *NOT* request to be a witness at the hearing. This hearing is 
supposed to be about *ALL* invasive species and we do not want to let 
Senator Bill Nelson and the committees turn this into a circus with 
Pythons and the Reptile Industry at the center. There is much 
unwarranted sensationalism surrounding the Burmese Python and it would 
play well for our opponents to put us in the spotlight. Reptiles 
represent the smallest portion of invasive species in the US so we must 
keep them from focusing solely on us. We won't play into their hands on 
this point. We will not win this debate arguing about Burmese Pythons. 
It is about addressing *ALL* invasive species without putting our 
Industry and Hobby in jeopardy. *This battle will NOT be won on the 
floor of the committee, but at the grass roots level and behind the 
scenes. That has been our strength.* Discretion is the better part of 
valor.

*HR669 - The Non Native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (or Senate 
companion Bill) could BAN the import, export, interstate transport, 
purchase, sale, trade and breeding of most non native animals*... 
including reptiles & amphibians. It is a fee based approved ("white") 
list that functions on the premise of guilty until proven innocent. The 
burden is to prove each animal would never, under any circumstances, be 
a threat to the environment, agriculture or human and animal health... 
and you have to pay to have your animals considered for this "white" 
list. *USARK OPPOSES HR669, "White Lists" or complicated regulatory 
schemes that would alienate any segment of the Reptile Industry and Hobby.*

*S373* would amend the Lacy Act by adding the /genus Python/ to the 
Injurious Wildlife list. It is commonly known as the *"Python Ban"* and 
would end the import, export and trade in all the most popular Pythons 
in the reptile trade. *USARK OPPOSES S373 or any legislative 
manipulations of the Lacy Act.*

Both bills are disingenuous because they do not actually address the 
issue of invasive species which they claim to be so concerned about. 
Both of these bills would have far more impact on legitimate captive 
breeding operations already here in the US than addressing invasive 
species in the wild. Neither bill would have any demonstrable effect on 
established populations in the wild. Because of the size and ecological 
diversity of the United States we believe invasive species issues are 
best addressed as issues in individual states.

As we have done since our inception, USARK will fight tooth and nail for 
the Reptile Nation. But we need your help. These are dangerous and 
uncertain times for our Industry and Hobby. We have positioned ourselves 
well to fight these battles. We have the best lobbyists in Washington 
working to put us in a position to succeed, but without the financial 
support of the Reptile Nation this battle can't be won. *MORE and BIGGER 
FIGHTS are coming.  We know there are many out there who will fight with 
us. Please donate to the cause! Whatever you can afford... $10, $20, 
$100, $1000! It will ALL be matched by Zoo Med... dollar for dollar. WE 
NEED YOUR HELP!!*

*Many have gotten comfortable with our success in the US House of 
Representatives. We derailed HR669 in the House Subcommittee on Insular 
Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife with 50,000 written letters. It was the 
biggest letter writing campaign in 30 years on Capitol Hill. It is time 
to wake back up! Now we are in the Senate. We may need an even bigger 
effort to stop Animal Rights Extremists in the Senate! BE READY!!! We 
will keep you posted as things develop. The Reptile Nation is even 
stronger and more organized now!!*

Andrew Wyatt, Congressman Brown ( SC ) and Tom Wolfe

Picture above from left to right - Andrew Wyatt ( USARK President ), 
Congressman Henry Brown ( SC ) and Tom Wolfe ( USARK's Washington 
Representative ) - HR669's 50,000 letters from the */REPTILE NATION./*

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