[ SHOWGSD-L ] H.R. 669 Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act.
- From: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:34:15 -0700
H.R. 669 Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act.
Take Action!
Bans most nonnative species kept as pets!
April 29, 2009
Update on HR 669
On Thursday April 23, The House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and
Wildlife, chaired by Re
presentative Bordallo of Guam, met to hear presentations on HR 669. Speakers
were allowed five minu
tes each and also submitted formal reports for the Congressional Record. Only
selected speakers wer
e allowed to present information, including a USFWS official, a state official
from Arizona, a biol
ogist from Notre Dame, a fish farmer, and Marshall Meyers of the Pet Industry
Joint Advisory Counci
l who presented information for NAIA and many other organizations.
Over seventy organizations are on record as responding against HR 669,
representing bird, mammal, f
ish, and reptile interests. Over 50,000 individual emails and faxes were
submitted against HR 669.
NAIA supporters sent a flood of messages through our Capwiz lobbying tool --
literally thousands --
to Representatives prior to the hearing. Patti Strand, NAIA National Director,
submitted a two pag
e letter in opposition to the bill, which was presented the day of the hearing.
Committee members w
ere quite surprised at the strong interest in this bill and the responses from
their constitutents.
Thank you for taking action and making a difference!
Speakers indicated the bill needs more work. Representative Bordallo indicated
that the hearing wou
ld be open for ten days to receive additional input. Since this bill was
presented during the last
session of Congress, and has strong support from Defenders of Wildlife, Nature
Conservancy, Union o
f Concerned Scientists and the HSUS, it is expected that changes will be made
in the bill to make i
t more palatable to the public. This does not mean the bill will be acceptable
to those with intere
sts in nonnative species. In one internet media blog, Michael Markarian, HSUS
VP, reportedly stated
the following:
"First, the bill is aimed at exotic wildlife, not domestic household pets. It
includes a specific e
xemption for cats, dogs, rabbits, goldfish, and horses. And the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service is a
llowed to add more exempted species as it sees fit. The HSUS and HSLF are
specifically requesting t
hat hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and ferrets be added to the exempted list."
This is an indication that there will be attempts to make the bill appear non
threatening to owners
and breedes of nonnative species. However, while we remain hopeful, we do not
expect any positive
changes in this bill due to the agenda of those making the changes.
We recommend that individuals continue to contact their Representatives and
express their concerns
about interstate transport of their animals, the ability to sell or give away
their animals, and th
e ability to breed their animals, all of which would be prohibited under HR
669. As further changes
occur, we will update this message.
HR 669 bans import, export, transport, breeding, sale or barter of ALL
nonnative species unless the
y are placed on an Approved List established by the USFWS after extensive
study. This law would aff
ect most pet owners of non native species.
Most pet birds, ornamental aquarium fish, reptiles and small pet mammals are
nonnative species and
would be ILLEGAL under this act, unless placed on the Approved List!
Any company manufacturing or selling product for these pet species would be
affected by this act. T
his means hundreds of thousands of pet birds and animals, reptiles and fish
would be affected
Thousands of small businesses involved in any aspect of the pet industry, from
breeding, selling an
d transporting animals to manufacturing and selling products for animals, such
as foods, toys, and
equipment.
HR 669 was introduced by Del Madeleine Bordallo of Guam, the Chair of the
Subcommittee of Insular A
ffairs, Oceans and Wildlife of the House Natural Resources Committee with the
purpose of preventing
the import of nonnative species which might be harmful to humans and to the
environment or a nuisa
nce to agriculture or horticulture.
Click here to read HR 669.
Most of the nonnative invasive species introduced into the U.S mainland or
islands were inadvertent
ly introduced through ballast water in ships or as stowaways in cargo shipments
(which is how the B
rown Tree Snake entered Guam). Most nonnative species that are causing problems
in the US mainland
were NOT imported animals; domestic cats gone feral are likely the most common
exception.
At the present time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Lacey Act is
required to demonstr
ate that a nonnative species is injurious or harmful to humans or the
environment before it can be
prohibited.
HR 669 would require that nonnative species are prohibited until the USFWS
proves that the nonnativ
e species is not a threat. Such a process would be extensive, costly, take a
lot of time. It would
waste taxpayer money since it would apply to many thousands of nonnative
species which have histori
cally existed as pets in the US and have not been demonstrated to be a threat
to humans or the econ
omy or the environment.
HR 669 requires the USFWS to do a risk assessment on each species and then
place it on an Approved
or Unapproved list. Since the timeline, staff and financial resources for doing
this is in short su
pply, the USFWS will be unable to accomplish the task for most nonnative
species already in homes.
All species that did not appear on the Approved list would be banned: import,
export, transport, ba
rter and breeding would not be allowed. There are no exceptions for pet owners!
Most of the nonnative species kept as pets in the US have never posed a problem
to humans or the en
vironment. Yet all these species would have to be evaluated and approved or
they would be ILLEGAL t
o possess, breed, import, export, transport, and barter or sell!
While it is important to protect our environment and analyze whether or not a
specific species pose
s a risk, this bill as presently written does not provide a realistic and
achievable solution to th
e problem.
Enhancing and enforcing present regulations under the Lacey Act would be more
cost effective and sa
ve time and taxpayer dollars while protecting our environment and economy.
PLEASE CONTACT THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and voice your
opinion using the lobbyin
g tool below where you can send your opinion and include talking points
provided if you wish.
Also use faxes and phone calls to YOUR Congressperson, and where possible,
visit their local office
. Personal face-to-face contact is very effective.
If you received this email from a friend, be sure to sign up HERE to receive
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he future about important animal legislation in your state -- and nationally.
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--
Stormy Hope
www.carpoc.org
AKC Legislative Liaison, GSDCA
Sunshine Squad <showgsd.org/sunshine.html)
GSDs and more
--
Stormy Hope
www.carpoc.org
AKC Legislative Liaison, GSDCA
Sunshine Squad <showgsd.org/sunshine.html)
GSDs and more
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