Sample Letter #1

SAMPLE LETTER:

Honorable Representative (name):

Re: HB 2328

Per CHAPTER 161. GENERAL DISEASE AND PEST CONTROL
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS § 161.001. Definitions:
"(5) 'Exotic fowl' means any avian species that is not indigenous to this state.
The term includes ratites."

HB 2328 has been written as an attempt to manage outbreaks such as
END and other diseases, and would regulate all poultry, hookbilled birds
(such as parrots) and all other exotic cage birds not native to Texas.
This bill has been through a public hearing and is ready for passage by
the Texas House and Senate. Texas poultry associations are mounting a
strong campaign in support. I urge you to oppose this bill as written.

Exotic birds are not managed like poultry. They are not free-ranging but
always securely contained. Exotic birds are now regulated under the
Animal Welfare Act (AWA), as amended by the Helms Amendment to
the Farm Bill, on Feb. 28, 2002. Regulations will be implemented by the
USDA, APHIS, Animal Care Division and require routine permits and
inspections. It is not necessary for the state to duplicate these regulations.

The cost to the Texas taxpayer to implement HB 2328 is not acceptable,
particularly since these regulations presently fall under federal jurisdiction.

Registration as required by HB 2328 would be public record. As such,
it would give potential thieves a convenient shopping place for their next
targets. This is most assuredly not acceptable!

As a member of an international network of exotic cage bird breeders, I
am aware of the issues revolving around Exotic Newcastle Disease (END)
and Avian Influenza, and they are significant, but the above legislation
is NOT the best way to deal with this. This bill demands rewriting to
specifically exclude exotic cage birds.

Respectfully,

(your name)
(your city), TX

Sample Letter #2

SAMPLE LETTER:

Re: H.B. No. 2328

Honorable (insert name):

Please oppose this reactive bill. It is not the right way to control exotic
fowl commerce. (1) those most in violation, e.g., cockfighters, will not
abide by it anyway, and a misdemeanor charge is not a deterrent; (2) it is
too broad and would likely negatively affect law-abiding exotic bird
breeders (as ''exotic fowl'' could be construed to include exotics such as
parrots); (3) because such registration would be public record, it would
give would-be thieves a convenient shopping place for their next targets
(as a similar requirement does in Florida now); and (4) the cost to the
Texas taxpayer to implement this is not acceptable, particularly with the
current budget problems (and turning it over to special interest
volunteers, such as PETA, is no alternative).

As a member of an international network of exotic bird breeders, I am aware
of the issues revolving around Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) and Avian
Influenza, and they are significant, but the above legislation is NOT the
way to deal with this.

Regards,

(your name)
(your city), TX