Just thought that I would share what my congressman (Jim McDermott) wrote in response to me writing him. When I contacted him, I tried to be very factual and respectful. I "took the tack" that while the basic intention of the bill to preserve our eco-system may indeed be well-meant, the wording of the bill would have unfortunate consequences. I included a short list of pets that would be effectively banned, with the implication that there might be more than those, and I politely pointed out that caring for "hamsters, gerbils. . ." is not the same as owning, say, an ocelot kitten or a Tasmanian devil. . .and then said that I myself had two domestic ferrets. I totally agree 100% that this is NOT "just about ferrets" and didn't want him to get the impression that I was some kind of crazed ferret-owner, instead of being a concerned citizen worried about the impact this would have on many, many common household pets, their owners, and the stores that provide the necessary elements to care for them. Here is his reply. Disclaimer: because he's in Congress, and subject to "disclosure" I don't think it's a violation to quote a message from him--unlike if someone I knew sent me a personal message. I find it encouraging that he promises to consider "my opinion" and am hoping that, as he looks into it, he will see exactly what I was trying to convey. Kate "Thank you for contacting me about the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act. I appreciate the time you took to communicate your position on this issue. As you know, thousands of animal and plant species around the world are currently endangered or threatened with extinction of which invasive species are a contributing factor. The threat of non-indigenous species and the adverse effects they inflict on our ecosystem is clearly a critical issue that demands American leadership. Currently H.R. 669, the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, is being considered by the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife and I will continue to monitor its status as the 111th congress progresses. Please be confident that if the bill is introduced to the floor I will review it with your thoughts in mind. I assure you that I, along with my colleagues in the Democratic majority, I will continue to insist on greater U.S. leadership in wildlife protection. Again, thank you for contacting me. As your Representative in Congress, it is critical that I understand the views of my constituents. I look forward to hearing from you in the future." [Posted in FML 6311]