[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 4, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E476-E477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING DONNA KALEZ AND GISELE ANDERSON AS MY CONSTITUENTS OF THE 
                                 MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE LEVIN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2021

  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize 
Donna Kalez and Gisele Anderson for my April Constituents of the

[[Page E477]]

Month. My district is home to more than 50 miles of beautiful 
California coastline, which includes some of the most incredible marine 
and sea life. Sightings of whales and dolphins off the beach and marina 
have brought tourists and locals alike to Dana Point for decades. 
Making this local phenomenon more accessible, Donna and Gisele 
collaborated as co-directors of the Dana Point Whale Watching Company 
for sightseers to experience the magic up-close.
  Their advocacy for local cetacean brought joy to all who frequent the 
city, but Donna and Gisele thought bigger, believing the world also 
deserved to know just how special the marine life experience in Dana 
Point is. With their combined effort to put the city's name on the map 
by showcasing the exceptional 450,000 ``dolphin stampede'' and year-
round sightings of rare whales, Donna and Gisele worked together to 
earn Dana Point well-deserved international recognition.
  In order to make that happen, the women formed a steering committee 
composed of civic, scientific, academic, business and community 
leaders, overcame challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
competed internationally to achieve the title that honors Dana Point's 
tradition as a pioneer in marine conservation. Due to their diligent 
work with the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), Dana Point is officially 
recognized as the first and only Whale Heritage Site in the Americas 
and one of only four in the world. Better yet, they took the extra step 
to legally trademark Dana Point as the Dolphin and Whale Capital of the 
World.
  As a native Southern Californian, I know first-hand how incredibly 
special our coastline and marine life are to the community. I'm 
grateful to Donna and Gisele for leading the charge in also letting the 
world know just how blessed we are to have these incredible creatures 
right here in our backyards. As leaders in the community, I thank them 
both for their advocacy and trail blazing efforts of bringing global 
attention to the United States of America being home to the most 
amazing populations of dolphins and whales like nowhere else in the 
world, especially in Dana Point. I'm honored to recognize them both as 
my April Constituents of the Month.

                          ____________________