[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 29 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E183-E184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING VICTOR GONELLA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2019

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, 
Representative Jackie Speier and Representative Mike Thompson, to honor 
Victor Gonella for his enduring commitment to the protection and 
restoration of California's salmon fisheries, and his exemplary service 
as the founder and president of the Golden Gate Salmon Association.
  Born in San Francisco, Victor developed a childhood passion for 
fishing that has greatly informed his public service throughout his 
life. His focus on salmon began after his family moved to Mill Valley: 
he fished off the waters of Sausalito on his first boat when he was 
still in high school.
  Following high school, Victor began to race motorcycles and started 
his own repair and custom engine fabrication facility. He rented a 
workspace from a local auto dealership, and eventually ran the 
dealership's parts and service center. Victor would go on to buy the 
dealership and move it to Petaluma, adding a second dealership soon 
thereafter.
  As Victor built up his dealership and custom racing business, he 
never lost sight of his passion for salmon fishing. In 2008, when 
California experienced the first closure of ocean salmon fishing, 
Victor took action and founded the Golden Gate Salmon Association to 
restore California's largest salmon runs. In doing so, Victor would 
make California history by bringing together disparate stakeholders, 
including leaders from the commercial and sport fishing industries, 
conservation groups, and businesses connected to fishing, for a common 
cause. Over the next few years, Victor developed the financial and 
logistical backbone of the organization, coordinated fundraisers 
throughout Northern California, and assembled community leaders to 
support the organization's mission.
  After establishing Golden Gate Salmon Association, Victor spearheaded 
its development of a plan to restore Central Valley salmon runs, 
utilizing available science and research funded by the organization. 
This process would be the beginning of a number of critical

[[Page E184]]

restoration projects that the organization sponsored and successfully 
completed, with many still underway.
  Madam Speaker, as ocean life continues to decline all over the world, 
organizations like Golden Gate Salmon Association are critical in 
protecting the natural habitat, wildlife, and fisheries that we all 
rely on and cherish. We therefore ask our colleagues to join us in 
thanking Victor Gonella for his tireless efforts to not only protect 
valuable natural resources but the communities that rely on them.

                          ____________________