[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 77 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E570-E571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING EVAN MARKS AS THE CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH

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                            HON. MIKE LEVIN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 2019

  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize 
yet another exemplary citizen, Evan Marks, as my Constituent of the 
Month for May. Each month, it's my pleasure to recognize residents of 
the 49th District who have gone above and beyond to make our community 
stronger, and Evan has done just that as the Founder and Executive 
Director of The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano.
  At The Ecology Center, Evan and his team turned a vacant lot into an 
educational space, featuring a vibrant farm, kitchen, and artisan goods 
store where they teach community members about the importance of 
sustainable living practices. With roughly 70,000 visitors per year, 
The Ecology Center is a critical resource for our community that shows 
people how to save water, grow healthy food, and produce goods with a 
minimal impact on our environment.
  Evan's work is imperative as we confront the dangerous impact that 
climate change is having on our planet. Just this week, the United 
Nations released a landmark report that found the health of the 
planet's ecosystems deteriorating rapidly, with over one million 
species of plants and animals on the path toward extinction due to 
human actions. However, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform 
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Chair, Sir Robert 
Watson, highlighted that ``it is not too late to make a difference, but 
only if we start now at every level from local to global.'' That is 
exactly what Evan and The Ecology Center inspire us to do, to take 
action at the local level that will help protect our planet for future 
generations.
  I am proud to represent a community that recognizes the impact we 
have on our environment and knows we are all responsible for combatting 
climate change. Evan and all of the dedicated staff at The Ecology 
Center have led by example and made an extraordinarily positive impact 
on the region. I am

[[Page E571]]

honored to recognize him as my Constituent of the Month for May.

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