HR 669 : CONGRESSIONAL HEARING BANNING NONNATIVE SPECIES APRIL 23, 2009 ACTION NEEDED

[Aquamojo]

I see your point, but I don't think a federal law is appropriate. The states are already dealing with the invasive species issue. There is no need for the federal government to step in and pass a law that applies to all states. Very few states have a problem with invasive tropical species. The threat in Florida is not the same in Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, or any other state. Minnesota just does not have this problem, so why should I or anyone in a state where a species can't possibly live be included in this type of regulation? Let the states deal with their problems on an individual basis.

Actually, the individuals states may be doing a fair job...but overall the system is being circumvented. The example I pointed out previously was that Piranha are illegal in Kentucky, but folks can drive across the border to a neighboring state and get the fish.

There's only one way to CYA in a situation like that...and unfortunately it means a federal law. Something is gonna shake out from this. The best we can hope for is that they give us a kiss before they, well...you know.

My good friend Marc Weiss sent me this to http://www.aquamojo.com/misc/669_ShortAlert_Comm.pdf distribute this for anyone who would like to post or distribute.

 

[Tigerdat]

you know, if people just kept fish in their tanks, and were responsible fishkeepers, there would be no need for things like this.

don't get mad at your politicians for wanting to preserve the natural beauty that is the waterways of the US... blame your idiot neighbor that flushed that gar down the toilet... or perhaps your stupid friend that turned the pacu loose in the local river because it got too big.

we brought this on ourselves. you wanna do something about it? show the rest of the country that we can be responsible with our pets. crying about it on the internet won't do any good.

Most fish keepers don't release fish into the wild. Almost every problem from an invasive species has been caused by some company or by government research. The one exception has been the snakehead release in Maryland and surrounding area. But these fish were not in the pet trade they were purchased live from Chinese markets to be eaten and for religious reasons were turned loose. Recently fish and Game poisoned Davis lake in California to get rid of the Northern Pike. The pike were not there because of a fish keeper but because some sport fisherman wanted to fish for pike so he released some....and they spawned like crazy. There are problems in Florida but even there most of there problems were not created by fish keepers. Oscars are in Florida waters because fish and Game thought it was a good idea and it would make a good game fish they were released in the 60's. There are lots of fish farms and fish importers in Florida, there are also hurricanes. I can remember in the early 90's there was a hurricane that flooded 3 importers and 2 fish farms and several places that imported reptiles were destroyed. It has been these natural disasters that have released tens of thousands of animals into Florida not a fish keeper releasing a individual fish that has caused a problem. There is also a problem with a salt water macro algie that showed up in California. This was probabily reliesed by a fish keeper cleaning his/her tank, but the real problem from this algie started in Italy by Museum that probabily accidently released a unique strain, they also shipped samples all over the world. This algie is now a standard in the industry. Ironically Jacues Couseau was in charge of the museum when the algie was shipped all over the world and released into the Mediterranean. I'll shut up now.

 

[ewurm]

Actually, the individuals states may be doing a fair job...but overall the system is being circumvented. The example I pointed out previously was that Piranha are illegal in Kentucky, but folks can drive across the border to a neighboring state and get the fish.

Which is a law and a crime that should be enforced and penalized by Kentucky.

 

[ewurm]

Update: I'm reading this bill word for word and drafting a position. According to section 8, anyone wishing to add a species to the "approved" list would be imposed a fee for the submission. I'd appreciate thoughts on this section as well.

 

[ewurm]

Also, Section 9 declares that even approved species would be unconsidered as "unmailable" matter. Discussion on this as well please.

 

[cichlaguapote]

Also, Section 9 declares that even approved species would be unconsidered as "unmailable" matter. Discussion on this as well please.

Wonder if this counts only for USPS or for all package carriers(fedex/ups/etc)?

Update: I'm reading tis bill word for word and drafting a position. According to section 8, anyone wishing to add a species to the "approved" list would be imposed a fee for the submission. I'd appreciate thoughts on this section as well.

Sounds like someone wants to get pockets lined?

Actually, the individuals states may be doing a fair job...but overall the system is being circumvented. The example I pointed out previously was that Piranha are illegal in Kentucky, but folks can drive across the border to a neighboring state and get the fish.

There's lots of ways to circumvent "the system". Doesn't mean we ban every vice in every state that someone goes around the law to get. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm laws are circumvented in every state probably multiple times a week but we don't outright federally ban any of them.

Sunday I went across state lines to buy beer because 12 packs aren't available in stores on sundays. I didn't hurt anyone. None of the rest of the U.S. did either. Does that mean alocohol should be federally banned because I circumvented and state goverment couldn't stop me?

If states aren't doing their job at controlling it's residents then they should rethink the system and think about ways to make sure those residents obey it's laws. Not just say "We can't control our residents so we need the feds to step in and control our state through penalizing the whole country".

 

[Silver City Dave]

A friend of mine just emailed me this. I guess PIJAC is trying to get people to understand this legislature by explaining it in English (rather than legal mumbo jumbo).

STOP CONGRESS FROM TAKING
YOUR PETS
[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Join [/FONT][/FONT]PIJAC [FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]in opposing HR 669
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Anyone with [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]pet fish[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri], [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]birds[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri], [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]reptiles[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri], or [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]small mammals [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]will be affected by this bill. Any company selling product or services for pet fish, birds, reptiles or small mammals will be affected by this bill. Would you be impacted by "The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act"?
• Virtually all fish in an aquarium are not native to the United States
• Most pet birds are species not native to the US
• Most reptiles kept as pets are not native to the US
• Hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and ferrets are not native to the US
This bill would ban nonnative species not specifically approved by US Fish & Wildlife Service. AND, it does NOT only ban their importation, it also bans sales, transportation and breeding of these animals
• If you own a bird or reptile, and your specialized veterinarian is located across the state line from your home, you would be prohibited from taking your pet to its veterinarian
• If you own two fish and they have babies, you would be in violation of this law and your pets could be confiscated and destroyed
• Don’t plan on moving to another state with your pet. Crossing state lines with your hamster, fish, bird, snake or other nonnative animal will be illegal
ANY animal except dogs, cats and goldfish will need to go through a costly, extensive study to prove they will not cause harm AND be approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service before they can be pets. The proposed congressional ban on "nonnative species" will affect hundreds of millions of animals currently kept as pets.
PIJAC supports managing invasive species, but this bill is not the answer . Simply enhancing and improving existing laws and regulations would meet the goal of preventing/minimizing the introduction of potentially invasive species.
Under HR669, ANY animal not native to the U.S. would have to be placed on an "Approved" list created by the Fish and Wildlife Service, which does not have the manpower or financial resources to do it . Nonnative species includes virtually every bird, reptile, fish, and small mammal commonly kept as pets. Until an animal is placed on the "Approved" list, you would be banned from adopting, purchasing, selling, transporting across state lines, or breeding these animals.
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]WHAT CAN YOU DO?
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]Pet owners and the pet industry needs to be heard NOW
• Contact members of the subcommittee – both in Washington, DC AND in their district offices. Let them know you don’t want them to ban your pets
• Attend your representatives Town Hall meeting during the Congressional Spring Break (April 6-17) and ask them WHY THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR PETS
• Alert everyone you know and ask them to stand up and be counted.
• Become a member of PIJAC and help us defeat this bill (www.pijac.org)
[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Aquamojo]

Which is a law and a crime that should be enforced and penalized by Kentucky.

It is...but it isn't. Short off some idiot telling the wrong person about their new purchase...how would that happen. What would you suggest? Roadblocks and shakedowns at the toll booth? In a perfect world everyone would obey the rules.

There's lots of ways to circumvent "the system". Doesn't mean we ban every vice in every state that someone goes around the law to get. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm laws are circumvented in every state probably multiple times a week but we don't outright federally ban any of them.

Sunday I went across state lines to buy beer because 12 packs aren't available in stores on sundays. I didn't hurt anyone. None of the rest of the U.S. did either. Does that mean alocohol should be federally banned because I circumvented and state goverment couldn't stop me?

If states aren't doing their job at controlling it's residents then they should rethink the system and think about ways to make sure those residents obey it's laws. Not just say "We can't control our residents so we need the feds to step in and control our state through penalizing the whole country".

I'm sure the folks paying ten bucks for a pack of smoke in NY are in a similar situation. Should improve gas sales and toll fees as they travel interstate to quell the nicotine demon.

Understand that I am in NO way condoning either breaking the law by driving across a state line to buy either beer, cigarettes or fish. I'm just pointing out that sometimes the government chooses to "remove a colony of termites" by blowing up the house rather than trying to control with proper treatment.

I completely agree with you. But I do believe in the trickle down theory. Were now in a U.S. where "more control" is going to be the new mantra. Get ready for checkpoints and shakedowns on the interstate. LOL

The whole bill is bull$hit. But our politicians generally submit something with a lot of teeth expecting to get some of them knocked out and still be able to chew. This will affect something.

A friend of mine just emailed me this. I guess PIJAC is trying to get people to understand this legislature by explaining it in English (rather than legal mumbo jumbo).

[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]
[/FONT][/FONT]

Dave, the link I posted above has all of this info that can easily be printed out. Good stuff. I've already dropped it off at all of our local pet stores. Surprising how many of them weren't even aware.

 

[ewurm]

It is...but it isn't. Short off some idiot telling the wrong person about their new purchase...how would that happen. What would you suggest? Roadblocks and shakedowns at the toll booth? In a perfect world everyone would obey the rules.

The federal government won't be able to enforce this law either. The budget of the USFWS is already strained, and they will be charged with researching every species and enforcing the lists.

 

[Camphilophus]

Let them pass this law, I won't enforce it. I'll be more likely to release my non-native species into local ponds after they threaten to destroy them rather than give them up.