OPPOSE HR 669 - Fish and other non-native animals importation ban

EDIT ADDED 4/22/2009 -

To watch this actual Committee hearing live, go to http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=273&Itemid and under:

Thursday, April 23, 2009:Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Legislative Hearing on H.R. 669, choose the LIVE VIDEO or LIVE AUDIO webcast.

(END OF EDIT)

This seems to be one of those pieces of legislation that crosses the political spectrum. As a conservative and businessperson, I am against government interference with the business industry... especially at a time like this when jobs and businesses do NOT need another hurdle to jump. In reading the many forum posts, blogs, etc., I also see that many of my liberal e-Friends also oppose this legislation as many of these folks are also pet owners and see the damage that will be done to the pet industry. It seems the ONLY people in favor of this kind of legislation are the PeTA and HSUS types that believe that animals actually have Constitutional rights. Of course, these two groups raise tens of millions of dollars... probably hundreds of millions... and actually DO NOTHING to help the animals they claim to want to save. PeTA has been caught killing over 90% of the animals it "saves" and then illegally dumping their carcasses into the dumpsters of other businesses. HSUS dose NOT have a single shelter and just rakes in unsuspecting donor's money and then spends it all on lobbying, jet-setting and eating nice expensive Washington, D.C. meals... probably including the various and delicious meats they want all of us to give up. Speaking of meat... now, it's on to the meat and potatoes of this blog... (nice segue.. huh! lol)

PIJAC and NAIA, both pet industry trade groups, have been working hard against the passage of this bill, House Resolution 669, a/k/a HR669, a/k/a H.R. 669. NAIA Trust (the political action end of NAIA) has set up a CAPWIZ webpage so you can easily fax an opposition letter to your politicians so you can let them know to opposed and vote NO to this bill which will severely and adversely affect the fish keeping industry, including hobbyists. We've been discussing this A LOT in the AquaticLife Yahoo Group and many other forums have very active threads going on about this proposed bill.

http://capwiz.com/naiatrust/home/

If you've never been involved in grass-roots politics and/or are not familiar with CAPWIZ, let me know if you have trouble migrating through the process and I'll help out. It's really simple once you do it.

There are many other websites with online petitions, etc., but CAPWIZ will put a faxed letter into every one of YOUR politicians hands so you won't have to worry whether or not they see the online petitions.

This message on AquaticLife has a YouTube video and another website set up specifically to oppose HR 669.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AquaticLife/message/39341
(START SNIP)
Most of the fish we keep in our aquariums could soon become illegal to transport or breed. This proposed bill would very soon destroy our hobby entirely. Please check out this very good video concerning HR 669 and then go to the easy to use web site to tell your congressman what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FPfL212CB8 (and other follow-up YouTube's)
http://www.nohr669.com/
http://www.stophr669.org/ (added to this blog but not on original post)
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And this post - http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AquaticLife/message/39405 which has a form letter that clubs/associations can type out on their letter head and fax or email to PIJAC representative who will be at the 4/23 hearing.

And this post - http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AquaticLife/message/39416 has an article showing where the New England Aquarium has come out against HR 669.

And this PIJAC document which has all of the committee members and their phone numbers, email addresses, website contact forms, etc.
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/669_Short_W_Comm.pdf

Lenny Vasbinder
Fish Blog - http://goldlenny.blogspot.com/ (Links to any articles referenced in above reply are listed on the right side, alphabetically under Labels and also under Archives by Year, Month)

-----Original Message-----
From: Summerfun
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 12:16 AM
To: Lenny V. aka GoldLenny
Subject: RE: Fish importation ban. H.R.669 and other non-native animals as well.

Aquaticlife. I would mind join possible other groups you have. I don't have the connections you have about to H.R.669 bill. So if you have any thing please send it our way and I will pass it on to the big guys of Michiana Aquarium society. We just had a fish auction sat. and they gave us a hand out and talked to every one at the auction. Hope you knew I was tring to help and not step on toes. Thanks again. Kelley

"A True Friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out"

--- On Mon, 4/20/09, Lenny V. aka GoldLenny wrote:

From: Lenny V. aka GoldLenny
Subject: RE: Fish importation ban. H.R.669 and other non-native animals as well.
To: "'Summerfun'"
Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 12:39 AM

Which group? I belong to several Yahoo Groups and other forums and we've been talking about it like crazy the past couple of months in nearly every forum I'm in.

Let me know which group as I have a good post with the best website to go to which is one of the trade industry group websites where they have a CAPWIZ website set up to fax Congressmen directly and it's free and easy. And another trade industry group that have the email addresses to the Congressmen on the committee hearing the resolution.

Lenny Vasbinder
Fish Blog - http://goldlenny.blogspot.com/
(Links to any articles referenced in above reply are listed on the right side, alphabetically under Labels and also under Archives by Year, Month)

-----Original Message-----
From: Summerfun [mailto:kid_collector_06@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 11:30 PM
To: Lenny V. aka GoldLenny
Subject: Fish importation ban. H.R.669 and other non-native animals as well.

Hello again Since you are well know in the group I thought I would see why no one has been advertising to ban non-native fish. Unless fish are listed on an approved list, the fish couldn't be imported , moved from state to state. You couldn't breed them, export them. Trade in a species would come to a halt possession would be limited.

The best way to learn about the details is at http://banner.pethobbyist.com/spclick.php?id+438

You need to act now, on April 23rd 2009 The Natural Resourses Committee of the U.S. Congress will hold a hearing on H.R. 669, a resolution that will in effect ban importation., interstate transport and the private ownership of most birds, mammals, reptiles and fish as pets. If H.R. 669 is adopted as written only these non-native animals would be allowed. Any cat, cattle or oxen, chicken, dogs, donkey or ass, goat, duck, domesticated members of the family Anatidae (geese), goldfish, horse, llama, mule or hinny, pig or hog, domesticated varieties of rabbit, and sheep.