FIGHT HR669

[Firefighter7457]

Here is a little video from Brian at BHB reptiles. It explains a little bit about a huge bill in the works to ban pet species and what you can to to prevent it from becoming a law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FPfL212CB8

 

[Jerry_c_62]

Thanks for the link Chad, I'm on it.

 

[Tennxx]

Urgent Letter to the Reptile Nation / HR669




Reptile Nation,

I know that we are facing dangerous and confusing times for the Reptile Community. Our end is upon us if we don't take decisive action to save ourselves. We have the power to decide our own future if we will only wake up and do what needs to be done!!

Thank you to those of you who have taken it upon yourself to take action. I know it has been frustrating. Congress is not set up to be reached by email. We have experienced broken links, constituent filters, blocks and deletions. But our opponents at HSUS lobbying for the bill have faced the same setbacks; although they have shown up in much larger numbers. As for the groups opposing the bill, USARK has generated the most contacts according to congressional staffers. But we must do much better or we will fail.

I just returned from a trip to Capitol Hill. Our lobbyist Tom Wolfe set up meetings with both sides of the Congressional Subcommittee considering HR669. We also did drop in visits to subcommittee member offices to make our case. Support was split down party lines. The Republicans support us and the Democrats oppose us. The Democrat side can win with a straight party line vote. The good news is that since meeting with USARK the Ranking Republican Rep Harry Brown, SC contacted me and has made this bill a priority. He has given us precise instructions on how to most effectively contact the subcommittee.

The Reptile Community must wake up or all will be lost. This is a huge mailing list. Yet only a few are taking action to contact the subcommittee. If everyone on this list did their part we would avalanche the subcommittee and make our point. We could kill HR669. We need to get off our lazy asses and start writing and calling the subcommittee members. The Hearing is on the 23rd of this month. That is all the time we have to save ourselves from being completely destroyed... and make no mistake, if HR669 passes the Reptile Community will be decimated overnight.

Rep Brown's office suggests we focus on direct contact with subcommittee members. That means written letters followed up by phone calls. They are telling us that email and fax are the least effective way to contact members... they get lost and deleted. We need to call and write. They are also saying to send the letters directly to our lobbyist and have him deliver them in mass to the subcommittee members. If you are focusing on other activities STOP until after you complete this important task. Start calling and writing. The Key is IN MASS!!! It has greater impact that way. The time is now to fight for your life. We must convince several Democrats to oppose HR669 to prevail.

This is what we need to do:

1.Write a letter to each member of the subcommittee. Click this link http://www.usark.org/uploads/hr669sample.pdf for the sample letter from our archive and names and phone numbers for committee members.
2.Label each envelope w/ the committee members name and your name and return address.
3.Put all these letters in a large manila envelope and send to: Tom Wolfe, 6246 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22205
4.Call each member of the subcommittee- you will be speaking with staff. Let them know you Oppose HR669. Be civil, but tell them how this will effect you and your family.
5.Check where members are from. If any of the members are your district representatives, or are from your state, make sure they know you are their constituent.
If we are not annihilated by HR669 be prepared to do this over and over again. From now on political action will be needed regularly to maintain our rights. If you have not joined USARK please click the link on the bottom of the page and protect your rights. Please post this letter on every forum and social networking site you can think of.

Sincerely,

Andrew Wyatt

President USARK

 

[Tennxx]

Sample Letter HR669


Send Questions to [email protected]

Sample Letter: cut & paste to mail



Subject: No on HR669

Dear Committee Member,

Please oppose HR669. It is a fundamentally flawed Bill written by a radical environmentalist group that seeks to end the ownership and trade of all non-native animals. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to justify the destruction of a Reptile Industry that leads the world in producing and exporting high quality captive bred reptiles. With the stroke of a pen thousands of small American family businesses would be bankrupted overnight. With no quantifiable benefits, what could be the justification to destroy a viable sector of the American economy in a time of hardship?

What will the additional drain on taxpayer dollars be to grow USFWS at unprecedented levels in order to destroy American small business? These are not the "To big to fail" corporate titans, but small family businesses with their entire net worth wrapped up in their Reptile breeding projects and ancillary supporting businesses. A 3 billion dollar a year industry would be wiped out by HR669. Thousands of American families would suffer losing everything.

Trade in Reptiles and ancillary businesses is estimated to be a 3 billion dollar a year industry.
More than 9 million Reptiles are exported from the US annually.
More than 11 million Reptiles are kept as pets in the US. That means 1 in 25 households have 1 or more Reptiles.
The US accounts for 82% of the worldwide trade in Reptiles.
At least 500,000 Americans would be negatively impacted by HR669. Thousands of small family businesses would be destroyed.
There are approximately 4 million boas & pythons, as well as more than 7 million geckos, lizards turtles & other Reptiles in captivity in the US today.
The United States Association of Reptile Keepers Opposes HR669.
Please oppose HR669! The costs to American Families would be enormous. The benefits are both questionable and non quantifiable. NO ON HR669.

Sincerely,




Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Ch)(NP-Guam)
427 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-5301
202/225-1188 (Washington Tel. #)
202/226-0341 (Washington Fax #)
120 Father Duenas Ave., Suite 107
Hagatna, GUAM 96910
671/477-4272 (District Tel. #)
671/477-2587 (District Fax #)
http://www.house.gov/bordallo/IMA/issue.htm



Henry Brown (R-SC) Ranking Republican
103 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3176 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-3407 (Washington Fax #)
1800 North Oak Street, Suite C
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843/445-6459 (District Tel. #)
843/445-6418 (District Fax #)
5900 Core Avenue, Suite 401
North Charleston, SC 29406
843/747-4175 (District Tel. #)
843/747-4711 (District Fax #)
http://brown.house.gov/Contact/index.html

Lois Capps (D-CA)
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3601 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5632 (Washington Fax #)
2675 N. Ventura Road, Suite 105
Port Hueneme, CA 93041
805/985-6807 (District Tel. #)
805/985-6875 (District Fax #)
301 E Carrillo Street, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805/730-1710 (District Tel. #)
805/730-9153 (District Fax #)
http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml

William Cassidy (R-LA)
506 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3901 (District Tel. #)
202/225-7313 (District Fax #)
5555 Hilton Avenue, Suite 100
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225/929-7711 (District Tel. #)
225/929-7688 (District Fax #)
http://cassidy.house.gov/contact/index.shtml

Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
1032 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-7751 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5629 (Washington Fax #)
51 South University Ave., Suite 319
Provo, UT 84601
801/851-2500 (District Tel. #)
801/851-2509 (District Fax #)
https://forms.house.gov/chaffetz/contactform.shtml

Donna M. Christensen (NP-Virgin Islands)
1510 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-1790 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5517 (Washington Fax #)
Nisky Business Center
Second Floor, Suite 207
St. Croix, VIRGIN ISLANDS 00802
340/778-4408 (District Tel. #)
340/778-8033 (District Fax #)
P.O. Box 5980
Sunny Isle Shopping Center, Space 25
St. Croix, VIRGIN ISLANDS 00823
340/778-5900 (District Tel. #)
340/778-5111 (District Fax #)
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Diana L. DeGette (D-CO)
2335 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4431 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5657 (Washington Fax #)
600 Grant Street, Suite 202
Denver, CO 80203
303/844-4988 (District Tel. #)
303/844-4996 (District Fax #)
http://www.house.gov/formdegette/zip_auth.htm

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (NP – American Samoa)
2422 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-8577 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-8757 (Washington Fax #)
P.O. Box, Drawer X
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA 96799
684/633-1372 (District Tel. #)
684/633-2680 (District Fax #)
[email protected]

Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2635 (Washington Tel. #)
202/226-4386 (Washington Fax #)
1640 South Stapley, Suite 215
Mesa, AZ 85204
480/833-0092 (District Tel. #)
480/833-6314 (District Fax #)
[email protected]

John Fleming (R-LA)
1023 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2777 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-8039 (Washington Fax #)
6425 Youree Drive, Suite 350
Shreveport, LA 71105
318/798-2254 (District Tel. #)
318/798-2063 (District Fax #)
Southgate Plaza Shopping Center
1606 Fifth Street
Leesville, LA 71446
337/238-0778 (District Tel. #)
337/238-0566 (District Fax #)
https://forms.house.gov/fleming/contactform.shtml

Doc Hastings (R-WA)
1203 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4704
202/225-5816 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-3251 (Washington Fax #)
2715 St. Andrews Loop, Suite D
Pasco, WA 99301
509/543-9396 (District Tel. #)
509/545-1972 (District Fax #)
302 East Chestnut Street
Yakima, WA 98901
509/452-3243 (District Tel. #)
509/452-3438 (District Fax #)
http://hastings.house.gov/ContactForm.aspx

Dale E. Kildee (D-MI)
2107 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3611 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-6393 (Washington Fax #)
432 N. Saginaw Street, Suite 410
Bay City, MI 48708
989/891-0990 (District Tel. #)
989/891-0994 (District Fax #)
515 N. Washington Avenue, Suite 401
Saginaw, MI 48607
989/755-8904 (District Tel. #)
989/755-8908 (District Fax #)
[email protected]

Ronald James Kind (D-WI)
1406 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5506 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5739 (Washington Fax #)
205 Fifth Ave. South, Suite 400
La Crosse, WI 54601
608/782-2558 (District Tel. #)
608/782-4588 (District Fax #)
131 South Barstow Street, Suite 301
Eau Claire, WI 54701
715/831-9214 (District Tel. #)
715/831-9272 (District Fax #)
[email protected]

Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. (D-MD)
314 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5311 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-0254 (Washington Fax #)
102 Turpins Lane
Centreville, MD 21617
443/262-9136 (District Tel. #)
443/262-9713 (District Fax #)
https://forms.house.gov/kratovil/contactform.shtml

Douglas L. Lamborn (R-CO)
437 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4422 (Washington Tel. #)
202/226-2638 (Washington Fax #)
415 Main Street
Buena Vista, CO 81211
719/520-0055 (District Tel. #)
719/520-0840 (District Fax #)
1271 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719/520-0055 (District Tel. #)
719/520-0840 (District Fax #)
http://lamborn.house.gov/ZipAuth.aspx

Frank J. Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
237 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3006
202/225-4671 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-9665 (Washington Fax #)
67/69 Church Street, Kilmer Square
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732/249-8892 (District Tel. #)
732/249-1335 (District Fax #)
504 Broadway
Long Branch, NJ 07740
732/571-1140 (District Tel. #)
732/870-3890 (District Fax #)
http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml

Pedro R. Pierluisi (NP-Puerto Rico)
1218 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2615 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-2154 (Washington Fax #)
250 Calle Fortaleza Old
San Juan, PUERTO RICO 00901
787/723-6333 (District Tel. #)
787/723-6333 (District Fax #)
https://forms.house.gov/pierluisi/contactform.shtml

Nick Joe Rahall, II (D-WV)
2307 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-3452 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-9061 (Washington Fax #)
601 Federal Street, Room 1005
Bluefield, WV 24701
304/325-6222 (District Tel. #)
304/325-0552 (District Fax #)
301 Prince Street
Beckley, WV 25801
304/252-5000 (District Tel. #)
304/252-9803 (District Fax #)
http://www.rahall.house.gov/?sectionid=9§iontree=9

Gregorio Sablan (I- Mariana Islands)
423 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-2646 (Washington Tel. #)
https://forms.house.gov/sablan/contactform.shtml

Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
1330 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5456 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-5822 (Washington Fax #)
33 Lowell Street
Manchester, NH 03101
603/641-9536 (District Tel. #)
603/641-9561 (District Fax #)
104 Washington Street
Dover, NH 03820
603/743-4813 (District Tel. #)
603/743-5956 (District Fax #)
http://forms.house.gov/sheaporter/webform/issue_subscribe.htm


Robert J. Wittman (R-VA)
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4261 (Washington Tel. #)
3504 Plank Road, Suite 203
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
540/548-1086 (District Tel. #)
4904-B George Washington Memorial Hwy.
Yorktown, VA 23692
757/874-6687 (District Tel. #)
https://forms.house.gov/wittman/IMA/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm


Donald E. Young (R-AK)
2111 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-5765 (Washington Tel. #)
202/225-0425 (Washington Fax #)
101 12th Avenue, #10
Fairbanks, AK 99701-6275
907/456-0210 (District Tel. #)
907/456-0279 (District Fax #)
Peterson Tower Building
510 L Street, Suite 580
Anchorage, AK 99501-1954
907/271-5978 (District Tel. #)
907/271-5950 (District Fax #)
[email protected]




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[Gary O]

Another very important link!

http://www.nohr669.com
http://www.twitter.com/NOHR669

Spread the word to everyone guys. Bird keepers to fish keepers. This will effect everyone.

 

[Jerry_c_62]

Well I have the day off, so I started at the top and called my way down the list. Next I start on those letters. I don't know for sure that e-mails are being blocked but I donn't want to look back after this thing has gone through and wonder I I could have done anything else.

P.S. The mailbox for the rep from WI. was full by the time I called. I hope it was a lot of us and very few of them.

 

[Shadera]

I slathered the letters email on a couple bird forums I'm on. Bird peeps are up in arms about this as well.

There's also this:
http://www.nohr669.com/nohr669flyer.pdf

I'm printing out a bunch of these and hitting all the local pet places. This would also be wonderful to take to reptile shows for the folks who don't hang out on forums.

 

[MerekC]

I also posted more info awhile ago with the new site to go to...

http://www.nohr669.com

It's a direct link to sending your congressmen letters/emails etc. from the government agency if I am not mistake that are fighting this bill. Just thought I drop in and post it here too. I didn't see it mentioned.

 

[MerekC]

Man I am blind. LOL Oh well all my stuff is in the General BS area, but it good to see more info all over.

 

[kmurphy]

Here's what we are up against!

We have to send out more letters than they do.

http://www.necis.net/files/brochure-to-support-h.r.-669-2.pdf

The web site it here. http://www.necis.net/

I've never seen so much misinformation.

 

[Firefighter7457]

ridiculous

the mis-information that the non herp owning public is receiving on this bill is ridiculous. i have copied a letter sent to the people at http://www.necis.net/.

To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is in response to the brochures you are producing about the purposed bill H.R 669. I own several species that are on the list of invasive animals listed in this bill and would like to point out that your brochure is full of untrue information or whole lies. I would hope this is not intentional but rather due to a lack of information, and hope it would be corrected. I would also like to see animals added to the bill for the sake of correct information. I feel that the list should include all dogs, cats, and native rodents. Now the addition of dogs and cats may sound ridiculous to you, as most of the species on the list sound to me, but they can become as destructive if not more so than other species on the list. Stray dogs and cats will multiply faster than any reptile species on the list and pose a far larger risk with injury or death to humans than the species currently on the list. I respect everyone's right to have an opinion but disagree with your use of incorrect information and outright lies to bring people to support this ludicrous bill. Please feel free to contact me if you would like the information corrected, or even to meet some of the beautiful species you are trying to make me a criminal for owning.


Best Regards,
Chad Gibbs

 

[MerekC]

I also sent a letter to my local radio station and a whole lot of places and seems I getting response now. Here it is below. I posted this in another thread as well.

My Local radio station that happens to be #1 in the Atlanta area is now aware of the situation. What the do with this info is all on them now.

Here's their site. I look on it time and time again to see if they are gong to do something. Q100 Atlanta > Home (Bert Show)

Subject:
Re: Proposed Bill H. R. 669
From:
Melissa Carter <[email protected]> (Add as Preferred Sender) ?
Date: Thu, Apr 16, 2009 6:28 pm
To: Merek <[email protected]>
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but thank you for this!

On Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 7:52 PM, Merek <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Ladies and Gents,

I am a huge fan of your show and I know you help so many people and so many issues. But here's an issue that needs to be addressed and the word needs to be spread. A new dawn, an era is upon us. On April 23rd, 2009, a proposed bill is being decided on to be presented to Congress to ban all Exotics incoming and outgoing into the U. S. and the procession of non-native species or exotic animals will be banned. This will affect everyone. To give you some insight on this issue, please visit http://www.pijac.org/files/public/US_HR_669.pdf this is the proposed bill revised as of April 2nd, 2009.

Please help me and the people who care about the Pet Industry provide the correct information to the public. Again, this will affect everyone, the economy and close several businesses across the United States (Millions of dollars lost and a whole lot of people out of jobs). Please help us. Thank you for your time.

PS: Below is another radio show that I listen to on this issue, as me and my business partner are breeders. Although Gary, not my business partner, talks about all sorts of issues, but this is important. It affects you guys as well. Herp Radio on Blog Talk Radio <--- H.R. 699 Taking our rights away Please make the public aware that one day the common "Parakeet" might be the thing of the past. This is not a spam letter, or whatever. This is my telephone number. 678.923.2003 I do not want your account info, money, or whatever. I just would like to see someone with the power to help us to do so if they can. You made the letters to the troops successful, so I think that you guys have the wonderful ability to help us spread the word as well. Thanks guys, a loyal listener.

Matthew B. Willis
AKA: Merek Matthew Cardew
Http://www.atlfrog.com
Http://www.blogtalkradio.com

--
Melissa Carter
Co-Host, The Bert Show
Melissa Times with Melissa Carter

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