[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 9 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 RECOGNIZING MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 15, 2021

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
commend Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on the occasion of her historic 
election as the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
  Daniella Levine Cava was sworn in as Mayor of Miami-Dade County on 
Tuesday, November 17, 2020, making history as the first woman to do so. 
Prior to her historic election, she served as the Miami-Dade County 
Commissioner representing District 8, first elected in 2014, and 
reelected in 2018. Her district included Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, 
Homestead, and unincorporated areas of South Miami-Dade including 
Redland, Falls, Princeton, Naranja, Leisure City and parts of West 
Kendall.
  While a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission, she served on the 
following Committees: Transportation and Finance; Infrastructure and 
Capital Improvements; Public Safety and Rehabilitation; and the 
Community Disparities Subcommittee of the Chair's Policy Council. She 
also served on the Transportation Planning Organization and the 
Executive Board of the South Florida Regional Planning Council.
  Additionally as a Commissioner, her efforts focused on delivering on 
a variety of issues like: Fighting for a fair share of resources for 
South Miami-Dade, increasing the County police force by 80 officers, 
expanding economic opportunity, championing parks and the environment, 
advocating for transit improvements and better planning, and hosting 
the annual South Dade Solutions Summit. She secured over $30 million in 
funds for infrastructure projects in South Miami-Dade.
  Mayor Levine Cava came to elected office after having served as an 
advocate for South Florida families for over 30 years. She served 
special needs children and immigrants at Legal Services of Greater 
Miami, and then represented children in the child welfare system as 
Associate and Legal Director for the Guardian Ad Litem Program.
  Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of devastating Hurricane Andrew, she 
was recruited to create a new intake system for child abuse cases with 
the Florida Department of Children and Families. Her efforts were 
concentrated on the neighborhoods of Miami-Dade County's District 8, 
where she helped restore the lives and homes of those devastated by the 
storm.
  In 1996, Mayor Levine Cava founded the social service organization 
Catalyst Miami, to help low- and middle-income families through 
education and advocacy. Catalyst helps approximately 5,000 people each 
year to become more self-sufficient.
  The passionate work that Mayor Levine Cava has done in the community 
also includes service with notable organizations like the Florida Bar 
Committee on Legal Needs of Children; the boards of League of Women 
Voters, Orange Bowl Foundation, North Dade Medical Foundation, South 
Florida Health Information Initiative, and several national boards.
  She has been recognized and awarded for her impact on the community 
by numerous organizations including: the Commission on Ethics, Red 
Cross, American Society for Public Administration, ACLU, National 
Council of Jewish Women and AAUW, among others.
  Born in New York and raised partly in Latin America, Mayor Daniella 
received her bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Yale 
University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia 
University.
  She came to South Florida in 1980 to join her husband, Dr. Robert 
Cava, a Miami native, who returned home to join his father in medical 
practice. Mayor Levine Cava and her husband raised two children, Eliza 
and Edward Cava.
  Madam Speaker, I urge you, my colleagues in Congress, and all 
Americans to join me in honoring Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for her 
historic election as the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, 
Florida and her dedication and commitment to her community and our 
great Nation.

                          ____________________