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topoftheline77
05-04-2009, 8:36 PM
When I first found out about this I went to a website and filed out a form to send a letter to my Congress Member and I got a letter back from him today. It reads:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your communication regarding your opposition to H.R. 669, the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, I appreciate the opportunity to learn of your views.

Wisconsin faces a threat from several invasive species, including the gypsy moth, the sea lamprey and Asian carp. These, and other invasive species, threaten to damage our farms, our fishing, our recreation industry, and the environment. While much of the work to control these species is done at the state and local level, the federal government coordinates with state and local governments to limit the spread of invasive species and reduce their impacts.

As you may know, the United States does not require animal species being imported to be screened for diseases or invasiveness. Many claim that under current law, it takes federal managers several years to ban individual species from being imported to the U.S., and these bans are usually made long after the species has entered the country and done substantial damage.

In light of the problems that invasive species can present to habitats, H.R. 669 would modernize existing law, and require the Secretary of Interior to consult with scientists, experts, and the public to assess the potential risk associated with species proposed for impact. H.R. 669 jas beem referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for further review.

I understand the serious damage that invasive species can do to our wildlife and economy. I am also aware that legislation such as this can gave unintended consequences on pet owners of species that pose no threat to the natural environment. Be assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind should H.R. 669 reach the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

It looks like he did his research and it's cool that he took the time out of his day to contact a 17 year old boy who can't even vote. Did anybody else receive something like this?

cguarino30
05-04-2009, 8:43 PM
seems kinda generic. He doesn't say what his position is.

cichlid fiend
05-04-2009, 8:45 PM
He sounds very down to earth

ewurm
05-04-2009, 9:20 PM
One of the co-sponsors of the bill is from Wisconsin. He may be in the ear of his colleague judging by his letter. I'm glad you got a response.

Egon
05-05-2009, 10:38 AM
seems kinda generic. He doesn't say what his position is.

I interned for a senator years ago, basically that's a form letter.
The senator I worked for (not saying all of them do this) had about 20 college interns working for him (free) and we would organize letters into general categories and tally the numbers for him. Basically the office was getting a sample of his constituents thoughts, concerns, and issues that were important at the time. These numbers are a real-time gauge of what's going on in that state. So the point I'm making is every letter and phone call counts, the actual senator most likely never sees the individual letter but they do see the numbers. My senator had a policy that every letter received a response, postage and interns are free so I bet a lot of senators do the same thing. You know your letter was counted because of the response, the response was generic because some collage kid wrote it.

TrikkyMakk
05-05-2009, 11:08 AM
When I first found out about this I went to a website and filed out a form to send a letter to my Congress Member and I got a letter back from him today. It reads:



It looks like he did his research and it's cool that he took the time out of his day to contact a 17 year old boy who can't even vote. Did anybody else receive something like this?

This is a generic letter. I am really sure he will keep it in mind. :ROFL:

This shouldn't even be a federal issue. How much time do you really think he has even spent looking at the issue? If anything the government will make it worse.

velanarris
05-05-2009, 11:22 AM
Rally against big federal government in all forms. It's not the right of the feds to determine what the states control but the converse. The states determine the feds rights. 669 is against that.

that one guy
06-25-2009, 3:03 PM
"the gypsy moth, the sea lamprey and Asian carp" are all naturally invasive species. i had to write about them.

they aren't purposefully transported so the bill wont do anything to stop them!!!

chefrific
08-07-2009, 2:25 PM
I got one of these too from my congressman. see below:

that one guy
09-18-2009, 6:02 PM
niiiiiieeeeeeccc.....

lochness
09-18-2009, 6:09 PM
ahh good - looks like they revised it already - mostly likely not due to any current pressure but foreseeable outcry from responsible pet owners - it was initially a blanket blocking of imports of any non-native animals/species. More letters would be excellent - so please keep writing them! Many animal-rights organizations have letters already written out for you on their websites and all you need to do is either copy and paste and email, or they send the form out for you from their site.

tcarswell
09-20-2009, 1:22 PM
seems kinda generic. He doesn't say what his position is.
If he leaves you saying that. Well then he is a real politician ;)

sirdavidofdiscus
09-20-2009, 9:14 PM
The problem in WI and all of the other Great Lakes states is coming from ballast water in international frieghters. That's where the lamprey eel, gobie, and the zebra mussel came from. Not importantion. Being a merchant sailor on the Great Lakes I see 1st hand how much the EPA and corp of engineers are cracking down on invasive species in ballast water (increasing our paperwork dramatically.) From what I see of this bill it does not address this issue at all.

cam191919
09-20-2009, 9:51 PM
lol, at least you got a response, did you mention that you were 17?