USARK has received letters from Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Democratic majority Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee Staff indicating that they will not honor commitments to work with us in regards to S373 aka ‘The Python Ban’. USARK has offered up a number of amendments to mitigate the effects of S373 on the captive bred reptile industry, including a moratorium on import until more definitive science can determine weather a Lacey Act listing is actually necessary. This would have amounted to what is known as a “sunset clause”. Apparently Democrats on the Committee feel they have the political momentum to ignore science in favor of political expediency. Justification for these draconian measures is predicated on the discredited USGS report on 9 large constricting snakes.



Democrat Staff are working on an amendment for tomorrows ‘Mark Up’ hearing that would “amend S373 to include the 9 snakes addressed in the USGS report”. It will be offered tomorrow. What is unclear is whether that means the bill will be ‘limited’ to the 9, or ‘include’ the 9. If it is ‘limited’ to the 9 it would target the large snakes including Boa Constrictor. If it ‘includes’ the 9, that could mean all of the large snakes, but also ALL the other pythons. As of yet there has been no language shared to clarify what they will actually attempt.



This utter disregard for good science in favor of political expediency continues to be pushed by the Humane Society of the United States. They see this as an opportunity to destroy the Reptile Nation. They have had unfettered access to Senator Nelson’s (D-FL) and Senator Cardin’s (D-MD) offices through sympathetic staff members.



EPW Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is working hard with USARK to build a coalition Opposing S373 for a fight on the Senate Floor. He is concerned with the obvious “railroading” that is being attempted with a viable sector of the economy to satisfy powerful special interests invested in destroying the captive bred reptile industry. He is also concerned with the lack of evidence to support such drastic and damaging measures. The USGS report has many problems which have been pointed out by scientists with far more acclaim than the authors, but one of the most glaring flaws is the aggressive climate model that the entire report is based on. In addition there have been no provisions made to account for more than 4 million snakes already in captivity that will become valueless overnight if S373 becomes law. S373 is an economic and ecologic disaster in the making.



USARK is doing everything possible to protect the Reptile Nation. Andrew Wyatt has been in Las Vegas raising money and awareness across the country. Todd Willens will be representing USARK in Florida at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commissioners meeting. Frank Vitello continues his vigilance on ‘The Hill’ and will attend the Senate Mark Up Hearing tomorrow in Washington, DC. We have the back of the Reptile Nation and will continue to do everything in our power to protect our members.



ACTION STEPS:



1. Contact The Media; Pythons Politics & Destruction of the American Dream Campaign. Click on this link to send a hard hitting email to all the big media outlets:



usark.org/campaign.php?id=9



2. Contact President Obama. Click on this link to let the President know you oppose S373 and the destruction of American jobs:



www.whitehouse.gov/contact



3. Call & Fax the Senate EPW Committee Today!



Obama Sample Letter: cut and paste in whitehouse contact portal above



President Obama,

S373 aka the Python Ban is being considered in the Senate right now. It will destroy thousands of jobs and bankrupt thousands of American families. The bill has been sensationalized and politicized and has no basis in real science. In fact a report generated by USGS to justify this bill has been called unscientific by an independent panel of scientists. It is being pushed by powerful special interest groups and it will hurt me financially. It is a confiscation of my personal property rights and will not solve the problems proponents claim it addresses. This is clearly a situation that has become politically driven and ignores science that does not support S373. Please do not allow politics to trump good science and sound policy. This is wrong and you promised in your election campaign not to allow situations like this to occur. Please stop S373.



***Join the Reptile Nation!





Forward this Alert to everyone you know... your friends, email lists, forums, social networking sites... everyone! This will only work if EVERYONE participates!! We must generate 10's of thousands of responses. Do it now! Go, GO, GO!!!!!



CALL IN DAY:



Sample:



My name is _____. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, there is NO evidence to show this bill will have any conservation effect on the Everglades. This bill will hurt American families in our state. It would Ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons and destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.



Contact: Full Senate EPW Committee



Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)

Phone: 202-224-5274

Fax: 202-228-2183



Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)

Phone: 202-224-3553

Fax: 202-224-0454



Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)

Phone: 202-224-4721

Fax: 202-228-0380



Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)

Phone: 202-224-4524

Fax: 202-224-1651



Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)

Phone: 202-224-6142

Fax: 202-228-1375



Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Phone: 202-224-4944

Fax: 202-228-3398



Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)

Phone: 202-224-6441

Fax: 202-224-1724



Sen. Max Baucus [D-MT]

Phone: 202-224-2651

Fax: 202-224-9412



Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond [R-MO]

Phone: 202-224-5721



Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]

Phone: 202-224-2441

Fax: 202-228-2190



Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]

Phone: 202-224-4451

Fax: 202-228-0282



Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]

Phone: 202-224-3244

Fax: 202-228-2186



Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]

Phone: 202-224-3224

Fax: 202-228-4054



Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]

Phone: 202-224-3753

Fax: 202-228-3997



Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders [I-VT]

Phone: 202-224-5141

Fax: 202-228-0776



Sen. Arlen Specter [D-PA]

Phone: 202-224-4254

Fax: 202-228-1229



Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM]

Phone: 202-224-6621



Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]

Phone: 202-224-4623

Fax: 202-228-5061



Sen. George Voinovich [R-OH]

Phone: 202-224-3353



Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]

Phone: 202-224-2921

Fax: 202-228-6362


-----
Andrew Wyatt

President USARK

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