Python Ban call in!!!!!!!!

ShaffersExoticHerps

Mike Shaffer Reptiles
Messages
335
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Please help by doing your part! This needs to be big so we need everyone to do this! Thank you!


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HR2811 (House version of S373) Sponsored by Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), will go to Mark-up (amendment) in a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday the 28th, and then to the full committee on Wednesday the 29th. This bill has been called the Python BAN. If passed as written, it will BAN the IMPORT, EXPORT and INTERSTATE TRANSPORT of the entire genus python. Once it passes Mark-up it will go to a vote on the floor of the full House of Representatives. Anyone who doesn't believe that this is an immediate threat to the entire Reptile Community has their head in the sand. If the Reptile Nation does not wake up and take massive and decisive action right now we could lose ALL pythons.

USARK has worked hard and spent a lot of money to make sure the Reptile Nation has the best information available regarding the fate of our community. We make our positions clear and operate with complete transparency. We have no conflicts of interest. Our only allegiance is to the Reptile Nation. We are asking you to TAKE ACTION NOW to save this industry. No one else can do this for us. We hold our fate in our own hands. That is why we created USARK, to take control of our own destiny.

We have the best lobbyists, contacts and strategy to address the situation. This is not the time to panic or get angry. It is time for calm deliberate action. We need to engage in a massive phone and fax campaign on Monday the 27th. Get everyone you know to call. Spread the word to every forum and social networking site you frequent.

Phone & Fax Campaign: Monday July 27 (call & fax ALL Congressman at ALL numbers)

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL),

Washington DC: phone 202-225-4506; fax 202-226-0777

Miami: phone 305-690-5905; fax 305-690-5951

Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL)

Washington DC: phone 202-225-5792; fax 202-225-3132

Punta Gorda: phone 941-575-9101; fax 941-575-9103

Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)

Washington DC: phone 202-225-3001; fax 202-225-5974

Boca Raton: phone 561-988-6302; fax 561-988-6423

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

Washington DC: phone 202-225-7931; fax 202-226-2052

Pembroke Pines: phone 954-437-3936; fax 954-437-4776

SCRIPT: My name is...... I want to register a NO on HR2811. If passed as written this bill will destroy thousands of Florida voters, their families and small businesses. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support banning all of the different species in the genus python. Please amend the bill to address only the IMPORT of the Burmese Python. Thank you for your consideration.
 

Golden Gate Geckos

Mean Old Gecko Lady
Messages
12,730
Location
SF Bay Area
I've already sent emails, letters, and several phone calls. All I;ve received is a form letter saying 'thank you for your correspondence'. This is SERIOUS thing here, and we ALL need to drive our legislators crazy with correspondence.

If you want more information on this, contact the USARK website.
 

ShaffersExoticHerps

Mike Shaffer Reptiles
Messages
335
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
I've already sent emails, letters, and several phone calls. All I;ve received is a form letter saying 'thank you for your correspondence'. This is SERIOUS thing here, and we ALL need to drive our legislators crazy with correspondence.

If you want more information on this, contact the USARK website.

You are exactly right and tomorrow is the day! C'mon everyone! If you have an extra 10-15 mins. do this! Even if you don't live there think about if it was to happen to you! If it happens in Florida, I gaurantee you it will not be the end! This is not for retics and burms! They just say "Pythons"! It is way to broad to just sit back and see what happens! Balls are Pythons too and in this bill they would be illegal! We have to at least stop these people and make them take the time to re write these bills! I have already spoke with one congresswomen that is against the bill, so it's not a worthless cause! Thank you!
 

Halley

Senior Member
Messages
4,670
Location
Missouri
Can you provide a link to the actual legislature? I would like to read what the bill is about in full.
 

JordanAng420

New Member
Messages
3,280
Location
Miami, FL
Posted another thread, but i'll post the email I got from USARK here too:

CALL DAY 7/27/09- Stop Ban On ALL Pythons Nationwide!

There seems to be some confusion in the Reptile Nation about what is going on here. HR2811 if passed would Ban ALL Pythons Nationwide. This is NOT a Florida bill. It is in the US House of Representatives. This is NOT about Burmese Pythons. IT IS ABOUT ALL PYTHONS!... from Ball Pythons on up... ALL PYTHONS!!! If HR2811 passes the House and Senate as written, the trade in ALL PYTHONS IS OVER!!

Our only chance is to get the bill amended. It is going to get voted on in subcommittee on Tuesday and the full House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. If we are unable to get it amended it will include ALL PYTHONS!

USARK is calling on the entire Reptile nation to turn out for a MASSIVE calling day tomorrow, Monday July 27, 2009!!! If we fail, the ability to work with ANY Python will be devastated. Don't let this happen. We owe it to our children and future generations to be able to enjoy these animals! This is the most fantastic hobby and profession there is. DO NOT LET IT DIE!

Phone & Fax Campaign July 27, 2009: This is not a full list of the House Judiciary Committee. We will focus only on key members.

SCRIPT: My name is...... I want to register a NO on HR2811. If passed as written this bill will destroy thousands of families and small businesses. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support banning all of the different species in the genus python. Not all pythons are the same. There are many different species. Please amend the bill to address only the IMPORT of the Burmese Python. Thank you for your consideration.

Sponsor and Key Members:
Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Sponsor
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4506; fax 202-226-0777
Miami: phone 305-690-5905; fax 305-690-5951

Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5792; fax 202-225-3132
Punta Gorda: phone 941-575-9101; fax 941-575-9103

Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3001; fax 202-225-5974
Boca Raton: phone 561-988-6302; fax 561-988-6423

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-7931; fax 202-226-2052
Pembroke Pines: phone 954-437-3936; fax 954-437-4776

Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) Committee Chair
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5126; fax 202-225-0072
Detroit: phone 313-961-5670; fax 313-226-2085
EMAIL: [email protected]

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) Ranking Member
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4236; fax 202-225-8628
San Antonio: phone 210-821-5024; fax 210-821-5947

Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4695; fax 202-225-3196
Van Nuys: phone 818-994-7200; fax 818-994-1050

Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3861; fax 202-225-0442

Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3065; fax 202-225-8611
Greensboro: phone 336-333-5005; fax: 336-333-5048

Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-6365; fax 202-226-1170
Chesapeake: 757-382-0080; fax 757-382-0780

Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4576; fax: 202-225-6328
Glendale: phone 623-776-7911; fax: 623-776-7832

Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5811; fax 202-225-1100
Thousand Oaks: phone 805-497-2224; Toll Free: (800) 423-0023; fax 805-497-0039

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5635
New York: phone 212-367-7350

CALL, CALL, CALL!!! Our Future Depends On It! Make an avalanche of calls and bury HR2811!
Click here to donate $10 with dollar for dollar matching from Zoo Med
http://usark.org/donate.php

THIS MUST BE BIG!!! SPREAD THE WORD FOR MONDAY July 27th 2009!!!!!!
 

ShaffersExoticHerps

Mike Shaffer Reptiles
Messages
335
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Posted another thread, but i'll post the email I got from USARK here too:

CALL DAY 7/27/09- Stop Ban On ALL Pythons Nationwide!

There seems to be some confusion in the Reptile Nation about what is going on here. HR2811 if passed would Ban ALL Pythons Nationwide. This is NOT a Florida bill. It is in the US House of Representatives. This is NOT about Burmese Pythons. IT IS ABOUT ALL PYTHONS!... from Ball Pythons on up... ALL PYTHONS!!! If HR2811 passes the House and Senate as written, the trade in ALL PYTHONS IS OVER!!

Our only chance is to get the bill amended. It is going to get voted on in subcommittee on Tuesday and the full House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. If we are unable to get it amended it will include ALL PYTHONS!

USARK is calling on the entire Reptile nation to turn out for a MASSIVE calling day tomorrow, Monday July 27, 2009!!! If we fail, the ability to work with ANY Python will be devastated. Don't let this happen. We owe it to our children and future generations to be able to enjoy these animals! This is the most fantastic hobby and profession there is. DO NOT LET IT DIE!

Phone & Fax Campaign July 27, 2009: This is not a full list of the House Judiciary Committee. We will focus only on key members.

SCRIPT: My name is...... I want to register a NO on HR2811. If passed as written this bill will destroy thousands of families and small businesses. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support banning all of the different species in the genus python. Not all pythons are the same. There are many different species. Please amend the bill to address only the IMPORT of the Burmese Python. Thank you for your consideration.

Sponsor and Key Members:
Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Sponsor
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4506; fax 202-226-0777
Miami: phone 305-690-5905; fax 305-690-5951

Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5792; fax 202-225-3132
Punta Gorda: phone 941-575-9101; fax 941-575-9103

Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3001; fax 202-225-5974
Boca Raton: phone 561-988-6302; fax 561-988-6423

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-7931; fax 202-226-2052
Pembroke Pines: phone 954-437-3936; fax 954-437-4776

Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) Committee Chair
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5126; fax 202-225-0072
Detroit: phone 313-961-5670; fax 313-226-2085
EMAIL: [email protected]

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) Ranking Member
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4236; fax 202-225-8628
San Antonio: phone 210-821-5024; fax 210-821-5947

Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4695; fax 202-225-3196
Van Nuys: phone 818-994-7200; fax 818-994-1050

Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3861; fax 202-225-0442

Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3065; fax 202-225-8611
Greensboro: phone 336-333-5005; fax: 336-333-5048

Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-6365; fax 202-226-1170
Chesapeake: 757-382-0080; fax 757-382-0780

Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4576; fax: 202-225-6328
Glendale: phone 623-776-7911; fax: 623-776-7832

Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5811; fax 202-225-1100
Thousand Oaks: phone 805-497-2224; Toll Free: (800) 423-0023; fax 805-497-0039

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5635
New York: phone 212-367-7350

CALL, CALL, CALL!!! Our Future Depends On It! Make an avalanche of calls and bury HR2811!
Click here to donate $10 with dollar for dollar matching from Zoo Med
http://usark.org/donate.php

THIS MUST BE BIG!!! SPREAD THE WORD FOR MONDAY July 27th 2009!!!!!!

Thank yor for that! I myself was confused and I think that was the idea! That's what they wanted! Confusion! I did find out today that it was nationwide and I got tons of people to call also! I hope we kill this bill!
 

Retribution Reptiles

Stripe King
Messages
2,380
Location
NE Ohio
We need to keep calling in!!!! Call your local news stations, if we get the media involved and show that we are united across the country the gov't will have to take notice
 

Retribution Reptiles

Stripe King
Messages
2,380
Location
NE Ohio
HR2811 Passes Full Committee


This Just in from the House Judiciary Committee Regarding HR2811 Markup:

The full committee has just considered H.R. 2811.

Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) asked that his statement be placed into the record.

Full Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) mentioned the recent python related death and stated the bill was needed to prevent any further accidents. He announced his support of the bill about to be amended.

Bill Co-Sponsor Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) offered his amendment to narrow the scope of the bill to 2 "real threats" to the restoration of the Everglades. He added the bill was needed because of the still pending petition to add pythons to the Lacey Act... 3 years after being submitted to USFWS by the South Florida Water Management District.

The Rooney Amendment to include only the Burmese and the African Rock Pythons was then passed by voice vote.

The amended bill HR2811 was then passed by voice vote.



As promised by Committee Staff, Rep. Rooney's Staff and Rep. Meek's Staff, HR2811 was amended to limit the scope of the bill to only two snakes. Staff renewed their commitment to work with USARK over the August recess to hammer out language for an amendment prior to a vote on the House Floor allowing the captive bred trade of the affected snakes to continue. USARK is dedicated to making sure all the Burm and Afrock breeders will be able to continue to operate their businesses. We will work hard to preserve your place as a legal business concern within the Reptile Nation Family.

HR2811 had bi-partisan support and flew through the Subcommittee and Full Committee even with hundreds of calls and faxes opposing it. Fortunately, USARK was able to convince Committee Staff and the Sponsors that this Bill would be incredibly damaging to an entire sector of the economy if not amended. To their credit they listened. They had not heard our side of this issue before. It seemed to them a very simple bill. We illustrated our concerns and they understood it was not necessary to destroy the Reptile Industry over this issue. They did not have to listen. The votes were overwhelmingly there to pass HR2811 intact.

USARK would like to thank Congressman Meek and his staff, majority and minority Judiciary Committee Staff, Congressman Rooney and his Staff, Congressman Gohmert and his Staff, and Congressman Scott and his staff for listening to the concerns of the Reptile Nation and for working with us in good faith. We look forward to continuing to work to fine tune this bill through the month of August.

This is a real Victory for the Reptile Nation! This whole situation could easily have led to the end of the Reptile Community. Thanks to the hard work of the Reptile Nation we have turned a bad situation good. Animal Rights organizations can no longer slander us at will. Washington now wants to know where we stand on these issues. We are working hard to make sure they understand the realities behind what we do, not the fairy tales being bandied about as if they are fact. We now have a voice... the voice of the Reptile Nation! You are now being heard loud and clear. Thank you for all the support!

WITHOUT YOU THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE!!!
 

ShaffersExoticHerps

Mike Shaffer Reptiles
Messages
335
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Yes! I would consider it a full victory! It does leave challenges for the importers of Burms and Afrocks but it could have been a whole lot worse! Thank you to everyone that has helped!
 

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