Reptile & Amphibian Forums

H.R.669
Title: To prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Action: 1/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

Try going to this address instead and type in H.R 669 in the center search box and search by bill number.

http://thomas.loc.gov/

As predicted by USARK, HR6311 has been reintroduced as HR 669. If passed as written this bill will BAN the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of many, many reptiles and amphibians... including Boa, Python and Eunectes. If this bill passes it will destroy the reptile community and industry overnight! PLEASE JOIN USARK IN FIGHTING HR669!!!

Andrew Wyatt
President/ USARK
www.usark.org

I just got this from USARK:

NO on HR669 / Grassroots Organizing 101

OK everyone just take a deep breath.... we need to look at this problem objectively. This is not the time to panic, it is not the time to get emotional, but it is time for thoughtful, deliberate action!

If you have been listening to USARK for very long, you knew that this was coming. Many were of the opinion that HR6311 was dead. USARK warned that although it was dead for 2008 it would be reintroduced in 2009. Now we have the newest version, HR669. Now the question becomes: What is the Herp Community going to do about it?

Let's look at the history of HR669:

1. It began in 2007 with a petition from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to USFWS to add Boa, Python and Eunectes to the 'Injurious Wildlife List' of the Lacey Act. That was followed by a Notice of Inquiry published in the Federal Register calling for public comment in early 2008. This constituted the first step in a 'potential' Rule Change to the Lacey Act. This process is under way and can take up to 4 years to effect an actual Rule Change. It is not over. This is still being processed by USFWS.
2. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Defenders of Wildlife, unhappy with the pace of progress with a 'potential' Rule Change to the Lacey Act, convince a group of US House members to introduce a bill based on a report written by Defenders of Wildlife called Broken Screens. In July of 2008 HR6311 is introduced into the US House of Representatives. Marshall Myers of PIJAC is present and makes an eloquent point by point rebuttal of the Bill. Because of so many other pressing issues HR6311 dies in the Natural Resources Committee it was assigned to.
3. USARK warns that even though HR6311 is dead for the legislative session it will be revived in 2009. USARK initiates a petition against HR6311 October 2008.
4. January 2009 HR6311 is reintroduced as HR669. A group of 10 House members co-sponsor HR669 and it is assigned to the House Natural Resources Committee.

Facts about HR669:

1. If passed HR669 would end the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of many reptiles and amphibians including boa, python & eunectes. The following is an excerpt from the Bill.

SEC. 6. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES.

(a) Prohibitions- Except as provided in this section or in section 7, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to--

(1) import into or export from the United States any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;

(2) transport between any State by any means whatsoever any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;

(3) violate any term or condition of a permit issued under section 7;

(4) possess (except as provided in section 3(f)), sell or offer to sell, purchase or offer to purchase, or barter for or offer to barter for, any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1);

(5) release into the wild any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1); or

(6) breed any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1), or provide any such species to another person for breeding purposes.
2. There are 10 sponsors for this Bill. That means this is serious. They want to pass this Bill. Some of sponsors have strong relationships to the HSUS.
3. HR669 has very little basis in scientific fact. There is no evidence to suggest that banning any of these animals will have any positive effects on the economy, environment, or human or animal species health.
4. What is certain is that passing HR669 would add to our country's economic decline and devastate American families and small businesses.
5. Your voice can make the difference in the defeat of HR669!

What can I do IMMEDIATELY to keep HR669 from passing?

* Click sponsors name from list below and that will take you to their email portal.
* Fill in subject field with 'OPPOSE HR669'
* Cut and paste sample letter into body of email adding your own comments (or write your own letter).
* Be brief, be polite, be articulate and DO NOT BE DISRESPECTFUL! This is extremely important!! If you can't do this don't bother to make contact.
* Let them know how HR669 would effect you and your family.
* Fill in your personal information.
* Click SUBMIT button.
* Send a separate email to hr669@yahoo.com with HR669in your in subject line so we can track the number of people participating.

Sponsors List:

1. Del. Bordallo
2. Rep. Napolitano
3. Rep. Kind
4. Rep. Grijalva
5. Rep. Kildee ** NO EMAIL
6. Rep. Klein
7. Rep. Hastings
8. Rep. Abercrombie
9. Rep. McGovern ** NO EMAIL
10. Rep. Miller

Sample Letter: Cut & paste letter.

Subject: Oppose HR669number

(Del or Rep Name),

I oppose HR669. This Bill is not based in science, but in the ideology of powerful special interest groups. 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.

In fact, if passed it would destroy many families and businesses. It would have a decidedly negative impact on an already ailing economy by destroying a vital and growing industry at a time when our country is in need of jobs and growth. The USFWS has just made changes to the CITES export permit process which would allow quality captive bred animals to be more easily exported to international customers. Passing HR669 would negate all the work USFWS has done for over a year. This Bill is a disaster to American small business and families in a time of economic hardship.

(tell in your own words- what you do and how passing this bill would hurt you and your family)

Please do not pass HR669.

Thank you,

(Your Name)

*
This is just the first step in a proven formula of grassroots politics used by groups such as the NRA and HSUS. Be ready to take the next step soon.
*
Educate yourself to the process.
*
If you haven't already signed, please sign our Petition Against HR669.
*
If you are not a paid member of USARK please join today! Fighting legislation like this takes members and money. We need your help to safeguard our Reptile Nation.
*
Don't forget to email hr669@yahoo.com when you're done so we know how many stood up and did their part.

***Please do this now and pass it on to everyone on your email list!!

Join USARK! There is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights!

Im not seeing any e-mail addresses to send the letter. It's time to take a stand.
-----
Brian Grosart
foreverconstrictors@hotmail.com

Can someone post the emails to each person on that list?

Shawn

>>H.R.669
>>Title: To prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health, and for other purposes.
>>Sponsor: Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (9)
>>Latest Major Action: 1/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
>>
>>http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

Am I missing it? I cant find a species list?
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

I will also post this as its own topic. Remember when contacting the reps, always be polite and factual. No Name calling. Run EVERYTHING through a spell check program.

Sponsor: Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z.
Guam District Office
Suite 107
120 Father Duenas Avenue
Hagåtña, Guam 96910
phone: 671-477-4272
fax: 671-477-2587

Washington, D.C. Office
427 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515-5301
phone: 202-225-1188
fax: 202-226-0341
e-mail: www.house.gov/bordallo/IMA/issue.htm

Co Sponsors
Rep Abercrombie, Neil
Washington, DC
1502 Longworth House
Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
phone: (202) 225-2726
fax: (202) 225-4580
District Office
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Room 4-104
Honolulu, HI 96850
phone: (808) 541-2570
fax: (808) 533-0133
www.house.gov/abercrombie/e_form.shtml

Rep Grijalva, Raul M.
DC Office:
1440 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
ph (202) 225-2435
fax (202) 225-1541

TUCSON Office:
810 E. 22nd St.
Suite 102
Tucson, AZ 85713
ph (520) 622-6788
fax (520) 622-0198

YUMA Office:
1455 S. 4th Avenue
Suite 4
Yuma, AZ 85364
ph (928) 343-7933
fax (928) 343-7949
WILL NOT REPLY TO EMAIL OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT!!!
grijalva.house.gov/?sectionid=49§iontree=2,49

Rep Hastings, Alcee L.
Fort Lauderdale Office
2701 W. Oakland Park Blvd
Suite 200
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Tel: (954) 733-2800
Fax: (954) 735-9444

Washington Office
2353 Rayburn Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Tel: (202) 225-1313
Fax: (202) 225-1171

West Palm Beach Office
5725 Corporate Way
Suite 208
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Tel: (561) 684-0565
Fax: (561) 684-3613

WILL NOT REPLY TO EMAIL OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT!!!
www.alceehastings.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=

Rep Kildee, Dale E.

Washington, D.C.
2107 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3611
202-225-6393 fax

District Offices:

Flint District Office
432 N. Saginaw St. Suite 410
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 239-1437
(810) 239-1439 Fax

Saginaw District Office
515 N. Washington Ave. Suite 401
Saginaw, MI 48607
(989) 755-8904
(989) 755-8908 Fax

Bay District Office
916 Washington Ave. Suite 205
Bay City, MI 48708
(989) 891-0990
(989) 891-0994 Fax

TOLL FREE to MI Offices 1-800-662-2685
no email provided

Rep Ron Kind, WI
Washington
1406 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
9am to 6pm
PH: (202) 225-5506
FX: (202) 225-5739
TTY: (202) 226-1772

La Crosse
205 Fifth Avenue S.
Suite 400
La Crosse, WI 54601
8:30am to 5pm
PH: (608) 782-2558
FX: (608) 782-4588

Eau Claire
131 S. Barstow St.
Suite 301
Eau Claire, WI 54701
8:30am to 5pm
PH: (715) 831-9214
FX: (715) 831-9272

www.house.gov/kind/contact.shtml

Rep Klein, Ron
Washington, D.C.
313 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
p: (202) 225.3026
f: (202) 225.8398

District Office
1900 Glades Road, Suite 260
Boca Raton, FL 33431
p: (561) 544-6910
f: (561) 544-2864

WILL NOT REPLY TO EMAIL OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT!!!
klein.house.gov/content/contact/

Rep McGovern, James P
District Offices
34 Mechanic Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 831-7356
Fax: (508) 754-0982

8 North Main Street
Suite 200
Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: (508) 431-8025
Fax: (508) 431-8017

255 Main Street
Room 104
Marlborough, MA 01752
Phone: (508) 460-9292
Fax: (508) 460-6869

371 S. Main Street
Suite 102
Fall River, MA 02721
Phone: (508) 677-0140
Fax: (508) 677-0992

Washington Office
438 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6101
Fax: (202) 225-5759

email address not provided on site

George Miller - CA
Washington DC:
2205 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
phone: 202-225-2095
fax: 202-225-5609

Concord California:
1333 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94520
phone: 925-602-1880
fax: 925-674-0983

Richmond California:
3220 Blume Dr
San Pablo, CA 94806
phone: 510-262-6500
fax: 510-222-1306

Vallejo California:
375 G. Street
Vallejo, CA 94592
phone: 707-645-1888
fax: 707-645-1870

georgemiller.house.gov/contactus/2007/08/post_1.html

Rep Napolitano, Grace F.
Washington, DC Office
1610 Longworth Bldg
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-5256
Fax: 202-225-0027

District Office
11627 East Telegraph Road, #100
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Phone: 562-801-2134
Fax: 562-949-9144
WILL NOT REPLY TO EMAIL OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT!!!
www.napolitano.house.gov/contact/feedback.htm
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Two new cosponsers have been added to the bill. This is bad news folks:

Representative Barbara Lee
Oakland District Office
1301 Clay Street Suite 1000-N
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 763-0370
Fax: (510) 763-6538
Hours: M-F: 9am - 5pm PST

Washington, D.C. Office
2444 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2661
Fax: (202) 225-9817
Hours: M-F: 9am - 5pm EST

Representative Barney Frank
2252 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
tel: (202) 225-5931
fax: (202) 225-0182

29 Crafts Street
Newton, MA 02458
tel: (617) 332-3920
fax: (617) 332-2822