Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WILMINGTON, NC, December 16--In a letter addressed to the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works the US Chamber of Commerce takes a position opposing S. 373 that echoes the position of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. The bill ostensibly written to address the issue of feral Burmese pythons in the Everglades is overreaching and circumvents the scientific listing process called for by the Lacey Act through the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

USARK believes that Burmese pythons have been sensationalized in the media and S. 373 has become overly politicized. USARK president Andrew Wyatt stated, “I don’t think there is any doubt that the Humane Society of the United States is trying to highjack this bill and use it as a tool to destroy the trade in high quality captive bred reptiles”. The HSUS has a long standing ideological position opposing all reptiles in captivity. They have lobbied extensively to pass as broad a version of S. 373 as possible.

As written, S. 373 would not achieve its stated goal of addressing the problem of feral pythons in the Everglades. It would, however, have a tremendous impact on the trade of captive bred reptiles in the US and abroad including a number of pythons and Boa constrictor. The trade in captive bred reptiles is a $3 billion a year industry and US exports account for 82% of trade worldwide. S. 373 if passed would be devastating. Thousands of jobs would be lost and scores of small family owned businesses would be bankrupted.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, opposes S. 373. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, “if enacted in its current form, this legislation would adversely impact tens of thousands of businesses”. The Chamber goes on to state that, “If, however, Congress intends to pass a ban to limit the import of the Burmese Python, then it is essential that the proposed ban be drafted as narrowly as possible”.
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Andrew Wyatt
President USARK

With the Chamber of Commerce on our side we have a chance. I'm sure mass e-mails help, but I can't help but think that some staffer deletes thousands of them at a time. NERD's post above with a contact in the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) that wants to hear from us is also a good sign. Look at that post from NERD above and e-mail them, they want to hear from us.

Mike

I do not think the HSUS or Nelson understands just how big of an impact this would make. Not just the U.S. but world wide.
On a [ban] show, they where in Canada and one of the guys there said alot of snakes come in from the U.S. This would probally hurt them some as well as other countrys we export the higher end snakes to.

Not to mention alot of items for the reptile trade is made in China.
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Thanks and Take Care
Thomas Jones
sweetpetsshop2@yahoo.com

Sn@kebytes
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Thanks and Take Care
Thomas Jones
sweetpetsshop2@yahoo.com

Actually, it's new morph that come from the States. This being lower than in the pass, there is less trade.

Unless you bring in a lot of animals, the cost of importing from the states to canada is higher or equal to buying from Canada directly for the available animals.

That ban would help the canadian breeders who don't sale to the state.

that's for the ball python at least.

For retic, burmese etc... it's a bit different, I don't think a lot of people import these other than new morph or super dwarf.
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love this world, don't hate it.

Gee....I just signed the petition again and was informed after I sent the e-mail that I was only the SIXTH person to sign in the state of New Jersey. So therefore, there's only four other people that signed (since I signed twice already). I know of at least 50 people who keep boids in the state of New Jersey and who are aware of this bill. I don't know... seems like no one here really gives a sh#t. Well maybe US ARK can provide a different letter every week so at least I'm sending my senators a different letter each week so they don't get bored reading the same letter every week.