H.R. 669 Hearing Update - from FishChannel.com newsletter

EDITOR'S NOTE (From FishChannel.com Editor)

Well, HR669, the now-infamous bill that would pretty much end the pet hobby as we know it, appears to be entering possible limbo-land as of the time we're sending this newsletter. (Read all about it here.) Some believe it has pretty much been killed. Others, and I would put myself in this category, are cautiously optimistic and waiting to see what happens next. Even if this bill is defeated, expect the animal rights and environmentalist groups who are traditionally responsible for bills of this sort to cull another one together sooner rather than later.

By all accounts pet owners came together in astounding numbers to battle this flawed bill that was based on questionable science. Those who would have been most affected by it are hobbyists who keep reptiles, tropical fish and birds. The majority of the popular pet species of these types of animals are not native to the United States , and the bill would have made it illegal to keep everything from bettas to bearded dragons to budgies. Advocates of the bill would say that species that are judged “safe” to keep (e.g., don't stand to establish wild populations should they escape) would be put on a list of approved species, but to get them on that list would be far from a cakewalk, requiring applications and fees, as well as USFWS personnel time and money that are reportedly nonexistent. Further studies could also be requested by USFWS before adding a species to the approved list, stalling the process even longer. It could take years, if ever, to get popular pets such as those mentioned above added to the list, and in the meantime they would be illegal.

Hopefully this bill is dead. If so, kudos to everyone who flooded the subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife with tens of thousands of letters and phone calls. Also kudos to PIJAC and USARK for keeping everyone informed. Everybody's efforts were not just impressive, but also vital.

Russ Case
FishChannel.com Editor

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-news/2009/04/23/hr-669-update.aspx
(reprinted below)
H.R. 669 Hearing Update
What's the status of H.R. 669 after the hearing?
By Benjamin Weiner
On Thursday, April 23, 2009, the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife met to deliberate, investigate and revise H.R. 669, the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, and decide if it should go to general debate and move forward in the legislative process. The hearing record is being held open for 10 days for responses and to decide whether to proceed.
Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Marshall Meyers testified before the Congressional Subcommittee regarding H.R. 669 as a representative of pet owners and the pet industry.
In written testimony submitted to the Subcommittee Meyers stated, "We support the development of a strategic, risk-based process to prevent the introduction of invasive species (harmful nonnative species) into the United States." However, the current draft of H.R. 669 "fails to be strategic in that it does not adequately take socio-economic issues and risk management options into account," and would "require funds and staffing not currently
available, nor likely to be available, to the US Fish and Wildlife Service."
Meyers said that they are willing to work with the authors of the bill to craft more realistic legislation that serves the public and affected industries alike.
Congresswoman and Subcommittee Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo of Guam (who authored this bill) said, "We recognize the bill is by no means perfect and that changes will be needed to address various concerns before any legislation moves forward."
"As it stands, PIJAC still has issues with points of this bill's impracticality or lack of clarity," Meyers said.
Andrew Wyatt President of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) said that the hearing was a "smashing success."
"Two weeks leading up to the hearing, USARK mounted a grassroots campaign of letter writing and phone calls," he said. "We swamped Capitol Hill with almost 50,000 letters that were delivered to Subcommittee members."
Wyatt added that on top of that were thousands upon thousands of phone calls, e-mail and letters directly to Subcommittee members.
During the hearing, Congressman and Subcommittee member Henry E. Brown of South Carolina said, "Like members of this Subcommittee, during the past few weeks I have received thousands of calls, e-mails and letters written by constituents in strong opposition of this bill."
Later, Wyatt quoted Harry Burroughs of the Subcommittee staff as saying, "I haven't seen a letter writing campaign like this in 30 years! You should be proud of yourselves."
Subcommittee member Eni F.H. Faleomavaega of American Samoa, a co-sponsor of the bill, congratulated Meyers, PIJAC and the pet industry for the tremendous grassroots response that has been generated, noting that it is important to have input from constituents on these issues.
Wyatt added that Faleomavaega said that the letters and phone calls hit them like a "buzz saw."
"We're so proud of all the people out there that did what they were supposed to do and sent letters and e-mails and phone calls," he said.
Russ Case, Editor of Aquarium Fish International and FishChannel.com, expressed relief at the outcome. "I'm happy that the bill may be in trouble in its current form, but as we all know, the groups who are against the keeping of exotic pets will return with another. For now I'm cautiously optimistic, but I'll be waiting to see what they cook up next."
Both PIJAC and USARK expressed that no current action is required by the public and that more updates are to come.
PIJAC Website - http://www.pijac.org/
USARK Website - http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-news/2009/04/23/www.usark.org

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)
(END SNIP)

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.