HR669 is DEAD!

nekomi · 04-23-2009, 09:12 PM

I just got word from USARK (US Association of Reptile Keepers) that HR669 was killed in subcommittee!

Me and my green tree pythons say "Thank you" to everyone who submitted a letter or phone call.

Anyone else watch the hearing today? It was extremely interesting and one of my first glimpses into the political process at a subcommittee.

My friendly boy, Haku, says THANKS for keeping him safe and legal!

BentletheYentle · 04-23-2009, 09:28 PM

*drool*

I want him. They are on my "must own" list when I buy a house and can get all set up without worrying about moving all the time...the 6 animals I already have are more than enough work! Renting is no fun

I'm glad that HR669 got shot down, though. So glad.

Katzyn · 04-23-2009, 09:31 PM

Link?

Last -I- heard, they were just going to reconvene in 10 days, after clearing points up a bit, because it certainly wasn't going to pass as-is.

nekomi · 04-23-2009, 09:33 PM

Here is the email I received from USARK:

VICTORY over HR669!!!

WE DID IT FOLKS!!!! Victory over HR669! You can thank yourselves and the Reptile Nation, for a hard fought Victory! Our nearly 50,000 grassroots letters and 1,000s of phone calls to the offices of the subcommittee members clearly prevailed at today's Insular Affairs Subcommittee hearing on HR 669. HR 669 in it's current form is finished. For anything to go forward it MUST be re-written from the ground up....and USARK will have a seat at the table along with other stake holders.

Delegate Faleomavega from Samoa said, "The letter and phone campaign hit the subcommittee like a BUZZ SAW". Harry Burroughs, of the subcommittee staff said, "I haven't seen a letter writing campaign like this in 30 years! You should be proud of yourselves." Take heart in the fact that the Reptile Nation stopped HR669 in it's tracks!!

We also need to thank Congressman Henry Brown, SC for helping us to focus our fight on the Subcommittee as opposed to the full House of Representatives. He is the one who instructed us to write real letters to be truly effective. He said emails are fine if that is all you can manage, but they can be filtered and deleted. There is no denying the weight of thousands of paper letters from American citizens. The Reptile Nation was responsible for 49,229 letters delivered to the Subcommittee in less than two weeks. Congressman Brown's staff made sure they all got in the door. 38,000 of those letters will be entered into the permanent record. Thank you my friends!

Credit should also be given to Bill Martin, a witness who testified at the hearing. He is the President of Blue Ridge Aquatics, a large multi-state Tilapia farming operation. They farm Tilapia as a food fish. He had some serious problems with the bill and the ear of much of the committee. His plain talk of how this bill would destroy hundreds of families hit home. What they do and the impact this bill would have on them parallels the plight of the Reptile Nation.

Senior Democrat staff from the House Committee on Natural Resources advised Subcommittee Chair Madeleine Bordallo that if she wants something to go forward she will have to go back to square one and draft a new bill. Then have another subcommittee hearing. When and if she does, USARK will be there to represent the interests of the Reptile Nation!! They probably will try, and that will be our challenge for another day. But Today VICTORY is SWEET!...... Celebrate today and rest, because tomorrow we must get ready to fight again.

Thank you Reptile Nation! Thank you Tom Wolfe. Thank you everyone who did their part.

Stay tuned... This fight has only begun!

USARK

Quote:

I want him. They are on my "must own" list when I buy a house and can get all set up without worrying about moving all the time..

Hey - let me know when that time comes... I can hook you up.

I keep a small breeding colony of about a dozen animals. Haku will hopefully be a daddy this summer!

I can also get you in touch with some of the best, most reputable breeders in the community.

So just let me know when you're ready.

Katzyn · 04-23-2009, 09:36 PM

Yeah, JUST went and found that on iHerp, lol.

Yay!

BentletheYentle · 04-24-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekomi

Hey - let me know when that time comes... I can hook you up.

I keep a small breeding colony of about a dozen animals. Haku will hopefully be a daddy this summer!

I can also get you in touch with some of the best, most reputable breeders in the community.

So just let me know when you're ready.

I will definitely do so! Thanks!

Laurelin · 04-24-2009, 01:07 PM

Yay! Now back to our world domination plot....

Ganondorf · 04-24-2009, 04:00 PM

I had the feeling that HR669 would be a failure. It just sounded way too ridiculous to actually happen.

blackrose · 04-24-2009, 05:03 PM

Whoooohoooooo!

Casey can continue pretending to be a parrot without either herself or her daydreams in jeopardy! (Cage was on the floor and Casey thought it would be a good place to nap...)