reply from my congressman
Dear Mr. Bridenthal,
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding the Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) final rule on the constrictor ban. Your views are important to me as I work to effectively represent you and Ohio's 16th Congressional District.
On April 7, 2011, the FWS filed a final rule with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding constrictors. Most commonly known as the constrictor ban, this rule adds nine non-native, non-venomous snakes to the Lacey Act's "injurious reptiles" list, therefore making it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, buy or possess any of the snakes or other reptiles found on this list. The OMB is currently reviewing this rule to determine the costs and benefits of its implementation.
I continue to have concerns with the current Administration's numerous attempts to use executive orders to circumvent Congress. The constrictor rule would effectively end commerce of these species and their hybrids, thus affecting an industry comprised of thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs. According to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy, the FWS failed to "adequately describe the impacts of the proposed rule on small business" and did "not discuss significant alternatives to the proposed rule." Clearly, the Administration failed to evaluate the potential effects of this rule, as is required under the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866.
The fact that the Administration sought to impose this regulation without weighing the costs and benefits illustrates how little it understands about small businesses. You will be pleased to know that I have voted in favor of both H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, and H.R. 3010, the Regulatory Accountability Act, to force the executive branch to take into consideration the economic impacts of regulations, and allow Congress to take an up-or-down vote on allowing them to go through. We need more accountability and transparency in the rulemaking process, and it is our responsibility as lawmakers to give the American people the chance to make their voices heard. Rest assured, I will continue to keep your thoughts in mind as the House of Representatives seeks to rein in the Administration's regulations.
I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts with me on this issue. In the future I encourage you to visit my website
www.renacci.house.gov where you can email me any other concerns that you have. If you would like to stay up to date with what I am doing in the 16th District and in Washington, follow me on Facebook and Twitter to receive frequent updates at
www.facebook.com/repjimrenacci and
www.twitter.com/repjimrenacci.
Sincerely,
Congressman Jim Renacci
Member of Congress
THis is an email I received from Congressman Renacci in repsonse to the form letter sent from USARKs website.
