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Say bye bye to your Pythons and maybe your Boas too.

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If the legislators considering HR2811 make their decision strictly based upon the calls made Monday and Tuesday this week, say bye bye to your right to breed and sell Pythons. The number of calls coming in has been absolutely pathetic. This isn’t some obscure extreme interest group meeting talking about whether or not they will try take away our right to keep Pythons. This is the US House of Representatives and they are as serious as a heart attack about this legislation. Though we had a previous commitment to a minimal alteration of our right to keep our animals, the extremists are pushing to have the entire genus python put back into the language of this bill, and added to the list of species regulated under the Federal Lacy Act. You have got to be heard!

If you do not call in, our hobby may be in jeopardy. You cannot assume anything. You cannot assume that reasonable heads will prevail. This is not being pushed by reasonable people. The people making this decision are reasonable people, but if they do not hear your voice, they may listen to the people who are screaming the loudest. Guess what? Without your additional calls, the people screaming to stop all trade in Pythons, are going to be the loudest in the chambers where this decision is going to be made. You cannot assume that USARK and our lobbyists, and or PIJAC are handling this. The grassroots revolt against HR669 is what stopped it’s progress. Not USARK. Not PIJAC. Not any individual. It was the combined effort of the thousands of people who got off their rear ends and participated. Together we can and will make the difference! If we do not act together, and that means every one of you, we are in a dangerous position. USARK’s lobbyist are exhorting us to act! We are and will do as much as we can. USARK and PIJAC are both working to make sure that HR2811 does not pass in a form that will decimate our industry. A grass roots avalanche has not been seen by the opponents of our freedoms since we stopped HR669. Now is the time to show ourselves again!

You have one day left. Wednesday November 4th is the last day. You must make your calls between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. That is Eastern Time. If you don’t know what that is, find out. In California that’s 1:00 PM. No excuses. Pick up your phone and spend 30 or 40 minutes being heard!

Do it!

This is what you must do!

One call in day left!!!

*** Wednesday - November 4th. Call In and Fax the Subcommittee and voice your opposition to HR2811. Be polite & professional!

Script:
My name is____. I oppose HR2811. It is overly simplistic and politically driven. It is poorly thought out and sacrifices good science for political expediency. The negative economic impact for my family and business would be significant. Please oppose HR2811. Thank you for your consideration.

Call/Fax List:
Sponsor:

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

Cosponsors:

Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-1313; fax 202-225-8398
Ft. Lauderdale: phone 954-733-2800

Congressman John Lewis (D-GA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3801; fax 202-225-0351
Atlanta: phone 404-659-0116

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 Mazie Hirono (HI-2)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4906; fax 202-225-4987
Honolulu: phone 808-541-1986

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

Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security:

Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-8351; fax 202-225-8354
Richmond: phone 804-644-4845

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3072; fax 202-225-3336
San Jose: phone 408-271-8700

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3816; fax 202-225-3317
Houston: phone 713-691-4882

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-2201; fax 202-225-7854
Los Angeles: phone 323-757-8900

Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3265; fax 202-225-5663
Memphis: phone 901-544-4131

Congressman Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-2615; fax 202-225-2154
San Juan: phone 787-723-6333

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5431; fax 202-225-9681
Roanoke: phone 540-857-2672

Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5716; fax 202-226-1298
Gold River: phone 916-859-9906

Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3035; fax 202-226-1230
Tyler: phone 903-561-6349

Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-6565; fax 202-225-5547
Beaumont: phone 409-212-1997

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

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

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 Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-6616
Brooklyn: phone 718-743-0441

Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4061; fax 202-225-5603
Chicago: phone 773-267-5926; fax 773-267-6583
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Jeff, what is usark doing about it though? I have seen a lot of people signing up and donating money at shows lately and many people yourself included asking for support for them, but I am not seeing them out front on this now. I thought a deal had been made to throw the burms and rocks under the bus to save the other species from the same fate. Now we are hearing that there was no agreement and all species are in peril still? And even more species including the boas are now targets? What is the status and what is being done? Please update us on this.

I am here to tell you that in my entire career in the reptile business I have never seen any people work as hard for the right to breed reptiles in captivity and our hobby/business/industry as USARK.

That is not what I asked. They posted here that they arrived at an agreement on other species being exempted from the process and the burmese and african rocks being the only ones targeted. Now there is no agreement? Other species are being considered for addition? I wanted to know what happened with that agreement and why the changes?

The bill was amended to include only burmese and african rocks (instead of the whole genus python) - they were to negotiate limiting those to WC only but that fell through - there are other special interest groups pushing to include boas and other large snakes - I haven't heard whether these have been officially added yet or not - but they are certainly on the chopping block. USARK is up against billion dollar special interest groups that want to take these animals out of our possession and they are doing an awesome job - but we need to get off our asses and out of our comfort zones and get these calls and letters done and donate time effort and money to USARK because once they get their foot in the door - they'll be going after the rest in no time.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl

I understand that but what I am saying and asking is that it is not limited to burms and rocks, has not been changed to limit to those, it still includes ALL pythons and I was wanting to know who backed out of that compromise and/or made promises they then refused to keep so I/we know who is doing what like playing dirty pool. Is there still conversation about language or are we just back to square one? That is what I am trying to find out.

Hello,

I heard that tomorrow on November 6th, they are having an open forum on the bill where professionals would be speaking on both sides of the bill. This came from one of the congressman's aids that is opposed to the bill when I called in and asked where they stood and I told them i was apposed.

Bill R
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

>>Hello,
>>
>>I heard that tomorrow on November 6th, they are having an open forum on the bill where professionals would be speaking on both sides of the bill. This came from one of the congressman's aids that is opposed to the bill when I called in and asked where they stood and I told them i was apposed.
>>
>>Bill R

Which congressman was opposed?
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Email Cindy
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

Sorry,

I meant for it....I have been doing way too many posts this morning...

Bill R.
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Well I know I watched them vote it down to just burms and Afrocks before their August break.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl

ALERT: Congressional Call In- Stop HR2811 Python Ban!

Please join the Reptile Nation in a Congressional Call In Opposing HR2811 aka The Python Ban November 2, 3 & 4. If you value your Boas & Pythons you will participate and encourage your entire sphere of influence to do the same. There is a Hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security scheduled for November 5th. Please call in and OPPOSE HR2811.

As originally written HR2811 would add the entire genus python to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act. This would effectively end the Import, Export and Interstate Transport of any animals listed. In July USARK was successful in narrowing the scope of the bill by removing most pythons with an amendment offered by Congressman Tom Rooney. The amendment would limit the bill to the Burmese Python and the African Python. In addition committee staff agreed in principle to further amend the bill to allow the captive bred trade in these two snakes to continue. To date this promise has not been kept and the HR2811 has not been amended to allow for captive bred trade.

Meanwhile the USGS Risk Assessment of 9 Large Constricting Snakes has been released. The Humane Society of the United States is lobbying hard to have HR2811 amended to include the entire genus python, as well as the four species of anaconda, and Boa Constrictor referred to in the USGS report. Do not assume that HSUS will not be successful in getting HR2811 amended to reflect these changes. Only USARK and the Reptile Nation stand between HSUS and the destruction of our community.

Our science experts have done a cursory analysis of the USGS report and characterize it as “…loose with numerous mistakes and inaccuracies. It is an oversimplification of a very complicated topic.” The bottom line is it is not the solid piece of science HSUS wanted to use as a tool to break the back of our community. However that has not stopped them from mischaracterizing it as just that.
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Snakes:
1.1 gray banded kingsnake
1.1 california kingsnake
1.1 kenyan sand boa
1.1 western hognose snake
0.1 albino checkered garter
1.0 florida blue garter
1.1 het anery red sided garter
1.1 reverse oketee corn snake
1.1 blood red corn snake
0.1 amel striped corn
1.0 amel 66% het striped corn
1.1 het albino ball python
1.1 het ghost ball python
0.1 spider ball python
1.0 pastel ball python
1.1 mojave ball python
1.0 butter ball python
0.1 ringer ball python
1.0 African dinker ball python
0.3 normal ball python
1.0 piebald ball python
0.1 het piebald ball python
0.1 Genetic Stripe Ball Python
1.0 Het Genetic Stripe Ball Python
0.1 Mystic Ball Python

Turtles
1-eastern box turtle
2-spotted turtle
2-eastern/midland painted turtle intergrade
1.0-common musk turtle
1-Pink bellied sideneck
6-Northern red belly

Invertebrates
0.1 southern black widow
1-Tanzanian Giant Tailless whipscorpion

Amphibians
0.1 Ornate Horned Frog

Birds:
1.1 red avadavit
2-blue breasted cordon blue
1.1-black cheeked waxbill
0.1-star finch
1.0-Java rice sparrow
2.0-owl finch
1.0-hybrid munia
0.1-White bellied caique

Fish
2-corydoras cats
1-African upside down cat

normal stuff
0.1 black lab

That greatly concerns me, as well. The transcripts for 7/29/09 clearly show Congressman Rooney's amendment limiting the bill to Burmese and African Rocks as being voted in by the full Judiciary Committee. So how can it move backwards to a subcommittee in its original form??? Somehow, there seems to be a breech of procedure totally disregarding the amendments already approved by the full Judiciary.

Pg 156. "Mr. Rooney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am honored to be a cosponsor of the underlying bill, and I am offering the amendment today to narrow the scope of the bill to two Pythons that we know pose a real threat to human safety and specifically to the South Florida Everglades restoration, the Burmese Python and the African Rock Python"

Pg 158. "My amendment will specify that Burmese and African Rock Pythons will be listed. There is no controversy that these two types of snakes pose a real threat to health and human safety. While I continue to support the underlying bill, this amendment addresses the concerns of many that listing all Pythons is too broad and may include snakes that don't pose a threat."

pg 158 "Chairman Conyers. And thank you very much. All in favor of the amendment, say, "Aye." All opposed? The ayes have it, and the amendment is carried. The Chair makes a point of order. A quorum isn't present, so we can't vote for final passage."

Pg 166. "We will now vote on the Python measure. A reporting quorum being present, all who support the bill, as amended, will indicate by saying, "Aye." All those opposed, say, "No." Ayes have it. And the bill, as amended, is ordered to be reported favorably. And the staff is authorized to make technical, conforming changes. Members will have 2 days to submit views."

I don't want to "throw them under the bus" and I made my calls, but at least the existing amendment to the bill must be recognised.
Paul

Thanks very much and that is exactly what conccerns me. I think many people think the fight is over or not so important because they have been told that it was amended and they have excepted the loss of the two species as a compromise. It needs to be 100% made crystal clear that this is not the case and this is still an all species bill! That was what I was after.

Where are you getting that it is still an all species bill? The last action I see to that bill is the amendment on 7/29 that limits it to the two species.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl

Please Tosha,
Search the congressional files and find the amended version. I found the original text with every avenue I took. Although the full Judiciary Committee approved Congressman Rooney's requested mark-up, all references I found show the original text. I will feel a whole lot better if you can find the amended version and post a link. Also, why would the bill move backwards from a full committee mark-up and vote to this subcommittee? The animal rights folks must have $ome $trong influence in the Judiciary committee to make this happen.
Paul

The amendment stands - there is only one amendment and it is noted - the text is not yet available - politically speaking this is not unusual in the least.

In the last hearing they specifically asked to hear from a panel of experts before moving forward - this is not a step back.

Yes there is also the chance and possibility that the special interest groups can and will try to add the other snakes - but that has not happened yet at this point the amendment is in tact.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl

Thanks!

That is what I was hoping to hear. Now if they can prevent them from putting an adendum or rider on to it we may be ok. They do not need a vote or hearing to just attach them last minute and float it through. Most of them never even get read. When you see the hundreds and thousands of pages put in front of the elected persons prior to a vote it is so ridiculous to think that they would be able to read it all and that is definitely what groups like this want. Sneak their opinions into law.

When I made my calls today, I asked the aides from Meeks and Rooney's offices that specific question and was told by both the bill is still limited to burms and rocks. Take their words for what they are worth................John Romeo

i copied this from the reptile channel. Unless things have changed since the 26th, it explains the situation well.

H.R. 2811 Python and Boa Ban
New python and boa ban hearing scheduled for Nov. 5, 2009.October 26, 2009

By Andrew Wyatt

On Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, H.R. 2811 aka “The Python Ban” will go to hearing before the U.S. House Judiciary Committees’ Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, chaired by Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA). As originally written, H.R. 2811 would have banned the import, export and interstate transport of the entire genus python by adding them to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act. The current form of the bill has been amended to include only the Burmese python and the Northern African python. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is lobbying to expand the animals included to list all of the snakes in the United States Geologic Survey (USGS) risk assessment of nine large constricting snakes that includes Boa constrictor.

In late July the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) was successful in removing most pythons from H.R. 2811 when Congressman Rooney (R-FL) offered an amendment that left only the Northern African python and the Burmese python on the bill. In addition, the bill sponsors and committee staff agreed in principle to further limit the scope of H.R. 2811 to only the importation of these snakes. It would still allow the captive bred trade to continue. To date that promise has not been kept.

On Oct. 13, the USGS released a risk assessment of nine large constricting snakes including the reticulated python, Northern African python, Southern African python, Burmese python, green anaconda, yellow anaconda, Deschauensee’s anaconda, Beni anaconda and boa constrictor. The African pythons, Burmese python and boa constrictor were all rated as high risk for invasiveness in the U.S.

The new USGS study is not without controversy. The authors of the study were the administrators of the 20-year failed program to eradicate the brown treesnake from Guam that cost taxpayers more than $100 million. They stonewalled a congressional inquiry and request for a formal briefing on the study filed in August. Nevertheless, HSUS is trying to use the study as impetus to amend H.R. 2811 to include all of the snakes in the study. If this were to happen, and the bill were to pass, approximately 25 percent of the Reptile Nation would be destroyed overnight leaving more than 2 million animals in limbo and reducing their economic value to $0, bankrupting thousands of hard working American family businesses.

Please do not let this happen. Contact your U.S. Congress representative and oppose H.R. 2811. Please get on the USARK mailing list and stay tuned for instructions on how to fight this bill from the grass roots level.

Andrew Wyatt is the President of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) and has been an avid herp enthusiast for more than 35 years. He has traveled the world and has had his animals featured in a number of television productions. For more information about USARK, click here .

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www.royalvariations.com

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