STOP THE LACEY ACT 2022

Livonia MI

Description

The America COMPETES Act of 2022 (HR4521), which just passed the U.S. House, poses a major threat to the pet community and our industry. Although this bill is meant to strengthen the U.S. economy and empower American workers and businesses, it contains unrelated amendments to the Lacey Act that will have the opposite effect on businesses and hobbyists like us. These amendments could: 💠Label many of the reptile, amphibian, fish, bird, mammal and invertebrate pets that we keep and breed as "injurious" 💠Ban all interstate transport of "injurious" species for any reason 💠Create a "whitelist" of species approved for import to the US, and ban import of all unlisted species 💠Empower the US Fish and Wildlife Service to enact an ‘emergency designation’ for injurious listings that becomes effective immediately after publication in the Federal Register without due process, public input, or advanced notice. What does it mean for pet owners? These amendments will make it harder to keep pets. Many of the pets you keep now would be labeled "injurious" by the federal government. Taking them across a state line for any reason, whether it's for veterinary care, education, or moving, would become illegal. What does it mean for pet breeders (like us)? They could prevent us from breeding reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates for sale, which would make it impossible to provide our hobby with ethical and affordable alternatives to wild-caught animals. Our business and thousands of others like it would be devastated. What does it mean for Conservation through Commercialization? By curtailing the commercial possibilities of ethical pet breeding, these amendments will hinder our ability to benefit wild populations of the creatures we love. When it's harder for ethical pet breeders to compete, poachers and wild-caught dealers win. What can YOU do to help? Call, email, fax and write your senators! Click the link below to learn more: https://usark.org/2022lacey/