UPDATE: HR2811 Hearing Recap

[EricRoscoe]

On Friday, November the 6th at 10:00 am the USARK delegation consisting of Andrew Wyatt, Dr. Elliott Jacobson, Michael Cole, Frank Vitello and Todd Willens attended the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Sub Committee for Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Hearing on HR 2811 aka ‘The Python Ban’. Chairman of the Committee was Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA). The ranking member was Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX). Co-sponsor of the bill, Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) was also in attendance. The expert witnesses giving testimony in support of HR 2811 were the bills' sponsor, Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Dan Ash, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nancy Perry, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and George Horne, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Testifying in opposition to HR 2811 was Andrew Wyatt, President USARK and Dr. Elliott Jacobson, Professor of Zoological Medicine, University of Florida.
Testimony went very much as expected, with HSUS and SFWMD calling for an end to the reptile industry, suggesting that all nine snakes addressed in the recent U.S Geologic Survey (USGS) report be added by amendment to HR 2811. That would include all four anaconda species, the two African pythons, Burmese python, reticulated python and Boa Constrictor. The surprising testimony was given by USFWS when they also called for the addition of all nine snakes to the bill citing their lack of expertise and ability to complete the evaluation of Boa, Python and Eunectes already underway and due to be completed by 2010.

Andrew Wyatt testified to the negative economic impact and loss of jobs that would occur if HR 2811 were to pass illustrating that the trade in reptiles is about 3 billion dollars annually and would effect on over 5 million Americans and thousands of small businesses. He also pointed out the fact that this bill is not only about import, but the approximately 4 million animals in captivity in the United States. HR 2811 makes absolutely no provisions for what would happen to the millions of animals already in captivity. Additionally he commented that this issue has been over sensationalized and politicized sacrificing good policy and science for political expediency. The premise for making drastic changes to HR 2811 was predicated on the recent USGS report which failed to make the case that proponents had hoped for.

Dr. Elliott Jacobson testified that the USGS report was riddled with uncertainty and referred to it as a “gray paper”. Dr. Jacobson noted that the paper was filled with errors, inaccuracies and over simplifications and had not gone through the rigorous peer review process necessary to be published in a scientific journal, but rather an internal review within USGS, thus placing it in the realm of “gray literature”

Although some members of the committee were overly aggressive in their questioning of Andrew Wyatt, Chairman Scott, Ranking member Gohmert and Representatives Rooney and Goodlatte were earnest and inquisitive in their questions and attempt to see all sides. USARK was able to make a strong case for the Reptile Nation. No decisions have been made as to how HR 2811 will move forward. USARK continues to have close contact with key members and committee staff in order to insure the best interest of the reptile community.

***All in all it was a very tough hearing, but this is not over by a long shot. This is the time for the Reptile Nation to come together as never before. We still have the ability to have real influence on the outcome. Join USARK! There is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights. The Reptile Nation needs you now as never before. DO NOT GIVE UP!!! The Reptile Nation will prevail.

Click here to read individual testimony. Then click the name of the witness.

Hearing on: H.R. 2811, a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal

Click here to see the Webcast. It is in two pieces.
http://jetpythons.com/HR2811Nov6.wmv
http://jetpythons.com/HR2811Nov62.wmv

[sesshomaru 15405]

i guess all we can do now is hope for the best.....

[morti]

Originally Posted by sesshomaru 15405

i guess all we can do now is hope for the best.....

That is NOT a true statement.

What we can do right now is support USARK. If you haven't yet donated and become a member, I urge you to do so. They are working for us but what they do isn't free. Every little bit helps. As of right now, we have over 6,600 registered members of RTB. If every one of them donated just $10. that would be $66,000 generated in one swoop.

We all should educate ourselves on what this legislation (and any future bills) would do to us if passed. I am not calling anyone out here, but it is sad for an issue to be this big and for there to be so much misunderstanding and misinterpretation. If we don't know what they are trying to do to us, we can't speak in an educated manner about this issue.

What we can do in the future is Call, Write Letters, Send Faxes... generally communicate with our lawmakers. They need to know that we, the voters, are not going to put up with this level of Bad Law. We need to get our friends and family involved as well. This issue affects all reptile keepers. After you have joined USARK and you start getting the e-mail notifications from them as well, you will not be "taken by surprise" with these issues, and you can plan to recruit some help with contacting lawmakers.

Unfortunately, I believe that this bill is going to make it to the House Floor in some form or another. That is when every call and letter is going to be the absolute most important. If our lawmakers don't know we exist, it will be easy for them to simply vote yes and get on with "More Important" issues.

So no. We shouldn't just wait and hope. We should be outraged and do everything we can to stop this.

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.

[sesshomaru 15405]

but how exactley? i mean yea i would love to donate to usark, and yea im very ticked about this whole thing, but if the hearing is over and there fixen to diside then what? and if this thing actully passes how are we to fight back?

i dont mean to sound like a pesimist but i just want to know what i can do and how to do it. i have no job right now but in one week ill be in the army. mabey then i can donate a good deal but im just afraid that it might be to late to do somthing by the time im able to do something.........man this sucks.

[skiploder]

Best quote of the hearing:

"I may be willing to go further, because some people may admire sharks. Certainly we know a whole array of shark incidences, from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Ocean, I live on the Gulf Coast.......um......not necessarily a haven, uh but someone might want to say.....uh.......this is attractive, I think I can handle this, let me get a shark egg and put in my fish tank. The question is that a responsible thing to do?"


Courtesy of Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee. It's amazing that cow can find her way to work every morning.

[sesshomaru 15405]

im just stressed out about this.....

[ekoostikBoa]

Originally Posted by morti

That is NOT a true statement.
What we can do right now is support USARK. If you haven't yet donated and become a member, I urge you to do so. They are working for us but what they do isn't free. Every little bit helps. As of right now, we have over 6,600 registered members of RTB. If every one of them donated just $10. that would be $66,000 generated in one swoop.
We all should educate ourselves on what this legislation (and any future bills) would do to us if passed. I am not calling anyone out here, but it is sad for an issue to be this big and for there to be so much misunderstanding and misinterpretation. If we don't know what they are trying to do to us, we can't speak in an educated manner about this issue.
What we can do in the future is Call, Write Letters, Send Faxes... generally communicate with our lawmakers. They need to know that we, the voters, are not going to put up with this level of Bad Law. We need to get our friends and family involved as well. This issue affects all reptile keepers. After you have joined USARK and you start getting the e-mail notifications from them as well, you will not be "taken by surprise" with these issues, and you can plan to recruit some help with contacting lawmakers.
Unfortunately, I believe that this bill is going to make it to the House Floor in some form or another. That is when every call and letter is going to be the absolute most important. If our lawmakers don't know we exist, it will be easy for them to simply vote yes and get on with "More Important" issues.
So no. We shouldn't just wait and hope. We should be outraged and do everything we can to stop this.
-Your Sick Uncle Morti.

Sorry to quote such a long post, but after reading Morti's post I joined USARK and am now happy to have contributed now! I'm also looking forward to a new T-shirt

[mjvale1]

Now that the testimonies are heard when is the decision date?????

[TammyJamaica]

Right - also anxious to hear......