US Bill 669

[Mr.Firemouth]

Hello Everyone

action is needed immediately by everyone who want to keep cichlids and other pet fish.

please read the attached bill in the House of Representatives - it will limit the import, the transport and ownership of fish along with many other pets

we need a grassroots effort by everyone to write, call email their representative and especially those listed at the end to NOT support this bill. do not delay - add your voice NOW

Here is a link....
http://acaforum.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=902

This is not a Political discussion but a request to tell the Lawmakers in an email that we do not support this Bill.
Please send the an email expressing your feelings to the email addys at the end of the link. Send 1 email to each of the representatives listed as they are sponsors of the Bill. This is your chance to affect our future hobby :)

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

Click the links on this page to see more...
http://www.pijac.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=504

That is the Pet industry council.
This Bill has a NON mailer attachment. That means if fish or CORALS not on the approved list will NOT BE ALLOWED TO BR SHIPPED OR MAILED.

If you guys are affected by that than take action and send emails in opposition to this and also vote at this poll...
http://www.govit.com/vote/congress.aspx?bill=2009-hr-669

This Bill can have a tremendous impact on our hobby. Lionfish are already one of their big complaints.

 

[chrisalmand]

Im not sure I disagree with this bill....

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I will send out a mass email on this.

Could someone write up a form mail or email that we can send to kinda have an idea as to what to say?

 

[AquaWorldPSC]

Rev one our of suppliers sent out a mass email saying

Subject: URGENT-Congressional Hearing April 23- Feds to ban nonnative species- Action Needed!

Hello,
I don't know if you have seen this letter before. If you have not, here it is attached

Please read the following attachment and get involved!

This is extremely important to our industry.

That is word for word what a supplier sent me.
Hope it helps.

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

Here is a copy of one more...

Dear___________


Here is an excerpt from an advisory notice sent to me from Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) concerning HR669.

"THE ISSUE
The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (H.R. 669), introduced by Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) Chair of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife of the House Natural Resources Committee would totally revamp how nonnative species are regulated under the Lacey Act.

Currently, the Fish and Wildlife Service is required to demonstrate that a species is injurious [harmful] to health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources of the U.S.

HR 669 substantially complicates that process by compelling the Service to produce two lists after conducting a risk assessment for each nonnative wildlife species to determine if it is likely to “cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health.” In order to be placed on the “Approved List” it must be established that the species has not, or is not likely, to cause “harm” anywhere in the US. Species that are considered potentially harmful would be placed on an “Unapproved List.” Furthermore, HR 669 would essentially ban all species that do not appear on the Approved List, regardless of whether or not they have ever been petitioned for listing or are sufficiently well studied to enable a listing determination.

Species not appearing on the “Approved List” could not be imported into the United States; therefore, all
unapproved nonnative species could not be moved interstate. In addition, trade in all such unlisted species would come to a halt – possession would be limited and all breeding would cease. Unless those species are included on the approved list import, export, transport, and breeding would be prohibited. Exceptions are limited and would not be available to pet owners across the nation."

Beyond the pet trade a law like this would have a far reaching negative affect in the food, medical, research and transportation industries. It would also make the job of USFWS Law Enforcement harder to do. The task of creating an approved list would be monumentally time consuming and expensive. For example, there are thousands of aquarium fish and invertebrate species that would have to be on the approved list if the industry were to survive.

Please consider the negative effect HR669 would have on our economy.

Sincerely,

_________________________

This was written by ACA BOT member Ted Judy. :)

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

http://www.govit.com/email_congress/
It sends the message to your representatives

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

Go to this link and act!

http://www.nohr669.com/

This will not go away!

 

[Sr5_Reef]

My american government class is supposed to write a letter to our congressman about a bill, that we agree/disagree with. What a perfect one to write about.
Won't be long before i work a piece up.
EVERYONE should be doing this. It could be the first step to a bad road for every hobbyist not to mention the lively hood LFS have..... or Suppliers/Wholesalers.... a lot is affected. IT SHOULD be limited but not totally rid of.

 

[EliteReefs]

Im not sure I disagree with this bill....

then i assume you dont really want to be apart of this hobby??
If this goes through as writen (which it wont) but if it did the hobby would be GONE, LFS GONE. most of the pet trade GONE.

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

It can definitely pass. This Bill could too...
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1101-1150/ab_1122_bill_20090227_introduced.pdf

 

[slipondajimmy]

This was on our local news site today

http://www.wesh.com/family/19237426/detail.html

 

[Jon Luciani]

How come everything i enjoy is awalys facing a BAN!!!! all my guns? BAN now my fish? BAN lol what a joke gooberment is running out of important things to do and needs to look busy.............stupid bills.

 

[yellowslayer13]

am I reading this right that the woman who is trying to get this bill passed is not even in the us she is in Guam what the heck not even a state

 

[yellowslayer13]

sent in my letter

 

[slipondajimmy]

Yup you sure are reading it right

am I reading this right that the woman who is trying to get this bill passed is not even in the us she is in Guam what the heck not even a state

 

[FateX8]

i dont get how they can pass something without creating a list of banned species first
in the bill it states that they have upto 3 years AFTER the bill is passed to make a list of banned species which to me is bs

 

[Paul_N]

That's how the government loves to operate. They don't define anything and then it leaves it wide open for interpretation down the road. They'll appoint a czar in charge of this and he will decide what and where. Some people have posted to not worry because it will never pass in its current form, but that is what the government is counting on. I'm not saying it will or won't be changed dramatically, but if we just wait and see and count on the government to do the "right thing"..... well we see where that has gotten us so far. We should always be in our representatives faces and letting them know what "WE" want. If I'm not mistaken, that is why they are there.

 

[cl2ysta1]

I think a lot of what this bill is "supposed" to be targeting are the invasive species which have been plauging our waterways for the past 20 years. Zebra mussels, quagga mussels, round goby, eurasian ruffe etc... I think this COULD be a good bill, but the way it is so vague right now it is not. California has had ferrets banned forever. All of the people who own ferrets know they are completely domesticated now. Because of one instance where they were purposely introduced in an area they banned them as pets.

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

http://usark.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26

I personally called 202-225-0691 of the House Subcommittee of Insular Affairs and talked to Megan who told me, "there is NO action scheduled for this Bill. It would need to be re-written or fully amended to be able to come up for another public hearing. As of right now, there is no talk of the Bill being amended, and as I said there is NO action scheduled for this Bill."

I would say after talking to her, that the Bill has been stopped for now.
Rich :)