My Work So Far on S. 373

[mongoose5971]

So i got my apathetic, automated response from our lovely senator Bill Nelson (I live in Florida)

Dear Ms. Heit:

Thank you for writing me about S. 373, a bill I introduced that would ban the importation and trade between States of the Burmese python.

Burmese pythons often are released into the wild when their owners can no longer care for them. Though not native to south Florida, Burmese pythons are thriving in the Everglades National Park, threatening natural species, many of which are endangered, and posing the risk of upsetting the delicate ecosystem of the region. We have invested many years and billions of dollars in an effort to restore the Everglades to its natural balance, and non-native species, like Burmese pythons, threaten to undo that work.

During a committee review of S. 373, the bill was amended to cover nine constrictor species deemed high or medium risk by a recent U.S. Geological Service report.

As this legislation moves through Congress, I will keep your views in mind.

Sincerely,
Senator Bill Nelson

I love how he focuses on burms and invasiveness when the bill does NOTHING to remove feral exotics and, in my opinion, leaves owners with no choice but to release their pets if they need to move.

I also sent actual printed letters to him and about 10 others including President Obama and brought some flyers and literature to our local reptile shop. I was highly disappointed in that they had nothing up and didn't seem to know or care too much about it. Hopefully the economic standpoint will be enough for it not to pass...hopefully.

Anyway, anyone have some more ideas I could put into action? Anyone have any good news on the subject? One thing I was wondering about myself is how to go about seetting up a written pettition. Anyone have info on this?