JayM
04-21-2009, 09:41 PM
Well folks, you may or may not know about a law which is coming up for a vote in the Congress this week. It is HR669, and it is directly related to our hobby in that it has the likely result of curtailing or eliminating all imports of 'non-native' species.The Board had discussed this at length, and we believe this bill is bad for the hobby, and bad for our club. As part of our charter to educate about reefs, we want to share what we believe about this pending legislation.
The blurb for the bill is: "To prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health, and for other purposes." The info is here: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=32&extmode=view&extid=246 or here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:1:./temp/~c111kPuoeu::
In a nutshell, if this law passes, owning, selling or trading all non-(US)native species in our hobby would be made illegal. Pet stores would not be able to sell their stock, it would be illegal to import or trade corals, inverts, or fish. There will also be import fees assessed for anything imported, which will substantially increase costs for our hobby, if they let anything on the 'allowed' list.
So you are aware, PETA and the US humane society are anti-hobby, and the major backers of this bill.
Every pet store and supplier we have had discussions with vehemently oppose this bill, because they are concerned that it will legislate them out of business. The Pet industry website, PIJAC, has a website with their position on saving the hobby: http://www.pijac.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=504
After discussions with the board, our sponsors, we are asking the membership to look at this bill, develop your own opinion, and if you agree with us that this bill is not a good idea as written, please call or write your congressman. Two co-sponsors of this bill are in the MA delegation, Jim McGovern http://mcgovern.house.gov/ and Barney Frank http://www.house.gov/frank/
I personally visited Jim McGovern's office, and on behalf of the club requested that if the bill had to go forward, that the language of the bill be amended to create a BAN list and add to it, rather than BAN everything and have an 'allowed' list.
We are asking you to please write your representative and weigh in on this bill. Our hobby, and the tanks we love may depend on it. The first vote is on April 23!
The anti HR669 website is http://www.nohr669.com/index.htm
Please feel free to comment and let us know you've contacted your rep! PLEASE participate. Your voice counts, and we can make a difference!
The blurb for the bill is: "To prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health, and for other purposes." The info is here: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=32&extmode=view&extid=246 or here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:1:./temp/~c111kPuoeu::
In a nutshell, if this law passes, owning, selling or trading all non-(US)native species in our hobby would be made illegal. Pet stores would not be able to sell their stock, it would be illegal to import or trade corals, inverts, or fish. There will also be import fees assessed for anything imported, which will substantially increase costs for our hobby, if they let anything on the 'allowed' list.
So you are aware, PETA and the US humane society are anti-hobby, and the major backers of this bill.
Every pet store and supplier we have had discussions with vehemently oppose this bill, because they are concerned that it will legislate them out of business. The Pet industry website, PIJAC, has a website with their position on saving the hobby: http://www.pijac.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=504
After discussions with the board, our sponsors, we are asking the membership to look at this bill, develop your own opinion, and if you agree with us that this bill is not a good idea as written, please call or write your congressman. Two co-sponsors of this bill are in the MA delegation, Jim McGovern http://mcgovern.house.gov/ and Barney Frank http://www.house.gov/frank/
I personally visited Jim McGovern's office, and on behalf of the club requested that if the bill had to go forward, that the language of the bill be amended to create a BAN list and add to it, rather than BAN everything and have an 'allowed' list.
We are asking you to please write your representative and weigh in on this bill. Our hobby, and the tanks we love may depend on it. The first vote is on April 23!
The anti HR669 website is http://www.nohr669.com/index.htm
Please feel free to comment and let us know you've contacted your rep! PLEASE participate. Your voice counts, and we can make a difference!