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did s373 get passed or what???

The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (EPW), Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife held a Hearing on S373 aka the Python Ban today at 2 PM. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman, presided. Senator Bond and Senator Levine were the only presenters. Senator Bill Nelsen, the Bill sponsor, was not in attendance to present on S373. The Hearing was brief and more of a formality in order to move 9 different bills forward quickly.

Some of you that are following USARK on Twitter got the blow by blow during the hearing. Dan Ashe, Deputy Secretary of US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), testified on S373 recommending that the Bill be amended to include all 9 snakes addressed in the recent US Geologic Survey (USGS) Report on large constrictors. Chairman Cardin indicated that USFWS should approach Senator Nelson regarding amendment. Robert Bendick of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), while acknowledging problems with the science in the USGS Report, also recommended amending S373 to include the 9 snakes.

The representative of the Humane Society of the United States was seen urging USFWS to ask Senator Nelson to amend S373 to include 45 species of Boa and Python.

‘The Burmese Python is being used by politicians and special interests to railroad the Reptile Nation!’

S373 as written would add ALL 40 species of python to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act; the entire python genre. If amended as recommended by USFWS and TNC it would add all 4 species of anaconda and Boa Constrictor to the list. That would be 45 species in all. Although the Bill Sponsor is from Florida this is not a Florida Bill. This is federal legislation that would affect the entire country…. Including, but not limited to, Ball Pythons, Chondros, Blood Pythons, Carpet Pythons and Boa Constrictors. If passed S373 will destroy the Reptile Nation!

It is time for a gut check. Have you done everything you can to keep this nightmare scenario from happening? If you have we greatly appreciate your support!! If you have been sitting on the sidelines hoping others will take care of this for you please stand up and help now. We need members and money to fight this legislation. You can make excuses or you can take action! There is Strength in Numbers… Protect Your Rights! In the coming days USARK will ask a lot from the Reptile Nation. This is it. It is now or never. Live or die. This industry and hobby has NEVER been so close to annihilation. Please don’t go quietly into the night.

Next Thursday, December 10, 2009 S373 will go to ‘Mark Up’ before the Senate EPW Committee. This is where the Bill can be amended. USARK has submitted several amendment proposals. We have one week to have an impact! Get involved and get ready to take massive action. We have worked too hard and come too far to let it all go now! ONE WEEK!… Don’t Sit This One Out!!!

‘Get ready for a MASSIVE Grass Roots Campaign Against S373!’

Join the Reptile Nation!

1. Click the 'Donate Button' at the top of the page to donate to USARK. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar by Zoo Med.

2. Click the 'Become a Member' link at the bottom of the page to Join the Reptile Nation. These battles are costly we need your support!

3. Click the 'Twitter Button' at the top of the page to follow USARK for fast breaking updates.

***Stay Tuned For Detailed Instructions on How To Take Massive Grass Roots Action***

SERIOUSLY FOLKS - If we do not ALL step up to the plate & fight this with all we've got, then there goes everything! PLEASE EVERYONE DO YOUR PART!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get ready to fight this with all we've got, otherwise we've got nothing!!! This is absoloutely scary!!!!!!!!! JOIN USARK & help them help us protect our rights!!!

>>did s373 get passed or what???

Here is an article I wrote that kinda breaks things down for each of the three bills and how the process works.
Are my Pythons Illegal?

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Email Cindy
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
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>>>>did s373 get passed or what???
>>
>>Here is an article I wrote that kinda breaks things down for each of the three bills and how the process works.
>>Are my Pythons Illegal?
>>
>>-----
>>Cindy Steinle
>>PHFaust
>>Email Cindy
>>Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
>> Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

I also posted the transcripts of the hearing. To be informed is VERY important for all of us.
S373 Transcript post.

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Email Cindy
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

Your article very helpfully clarifies the status of these three bills. We do need a scorecard these days. Thank you! You should post your link on on the relevant forums to share this with everyone.

>>Your article very helpfully clarifies the status of these three bills. We do need a scorecard these days. Thank you! You should post your link on on the relevant forums to share this with everyone.

Unfortunately these days, EVERY forum is relevant. Right now we have NO clue where it is going to go, but I will see about getting it up in the splash. We have another week to wait and see what goes next. Personally I will continue my calls again early next week.

For those subscribed to Cold Blooded Chronicles, you actually got this in your email last evening or this morning as well.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Email Cindy
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

thanks for that article. It's depressing but it's good to have an article to reference.