Senate bill HR511 adds the 'Big 9' to the Lacey Act

It was the other shoe dropping for our community. Four species of pythons have been added to the Lacey Act of the United States. On Tuesday, February 28, the Judiciary Committee will see another bill looking to include the remaining original species of snakes. From the House of Representatives webpage:

A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importatiion of various injurious species of constrictor snakes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. IMPORTATION OR SHIPMENT OF INJURIOUS SPECIES. Section 42(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by inserting after ‘‘polymorpha;’’ the following: ‘‘of the Indian python of the species Python molurus, including the Burmese python of the species Python molurus bivittatus; of the reticulated python of the species Broghammerus reticulatus or Python reticulatus; of the Northern African python of the species Python sebae; of the Southern African python of the species Python natalensis; of the boa constrictor of the species Boa constrictor; of the yellow anaconda of the species Eunectes notaeus; of the DeSchauensee’s anaconda of the species Eunectes deschauenseei; of the green anaconda of the species Eunectes murinus; of the Beni anaconda of the species Eunectes beniensis;’’

This would be a good time to reach out to your representatives. Remember: always be polite. Explain that the recent Lacey Act Rule including the Burmese, the Yellow Anaconda and the Northern and Southern Rock Pythons has not taken effect nor has it proven to be a failed addition. Also point out that this bill will criminalize many responsible owners on such basic tasks as crossing the state lines for vet care or in the event the family moves. You can also touch on the job loss and the impact this will have on the economy. Make it personal, and do not refer to your animals as a "collection" but as pets. Not sure who your representative is? Click here to find out. After the bump there is a list of those targeted as key members of the judiciary committee, however to reach out to the full list of committee members, click here. Lamar Smith (R-TX)- 202-225-4236 Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)- 202-225-5101 Howard Coble (R-NC)- 202-225-3065 Darrell Issa (R-CA)- 202-225-3906 Louie Gohmert (R-TX)- 202-225-3035 Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)- 202-225-7751 Trey Gowdy (R-SC)- 202-225-6030 Ted Poe (R-TX)- 202-225-6565 Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)- 202-225-5431