Action needed on national python ban

On December 3, 2009, the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works will hear Senate Bill S373. The bill, sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida was initially introduced in February 2009. It is a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal.

What does this mean? This means that the bill itself is going to place all species of Pythons on the Injurious Animal list of the Lacey Act, thus preventing import, export and interstate transport. That means all pythons from Children's Pythons to Reticulated Pythons will be considered injurious.

At this point the bill is at the second stage, which is to be referred to Committee. The committee will hear one witness for this bill and determine if any revisions are needed, if there is need to move ahead to Senate vote, or if it is to be dismissed. According to govtrack.us, most bills that make it this far never make it out of committee. This is no assurance that we are out of the woods, however. This is the best time to take action and influence Committee members with a grassroots effort.

Kingsnake.com would like to once again ask that you take time over the next several days to make calls and send faxes to members of the Committee to let them know you are not in favor of this bill. USARK has provided a good sample statement for you to use when you call in:

My name is ___. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, this bill will hurt American families while doing little to benefit conservation. This bill would ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons. It would destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)
Phone: 202-224-3553
Fax: 202-224-0454

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)
Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-6142
Fax: 202-228-1375

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Fax: 202-228-3398

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724

Sen. Max Baucus [D-MT]
Phone: 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-9412

Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond [R-MO]
Phone: 202-224-5721

Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]
Phone: 202-224-2441
Fax: 202-228-2190

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282

Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Phone: 202-224-3244
fax: 202-228-2186

Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
Phone: 202-224-3224
Fax: 202-228-4054

Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997

Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders [I-VT]
Phone: 202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776

Sen. Arlen Specter [D-PA]
Phone: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229

Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Phone: 202-224-6621

Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061

Sen. George Voinovich [R-OH]
Phone: 202-224-3353

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]
Phone: 202-224-2921
Fax: 202-228-6362