[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1742-H1743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MATTHEW GRUDA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition 
of Matt Gruda, my senior adviser and someone who has become both a 
friend and a confidant.
  Matt will be departing our team and beginning a new and exciting 
chapter in his home State of Florida, and I would like to take this 
opportunity to pay tribute to Matt and the remarkable work he has done 
for our team over the past 2 years.
  Matt joined our team in 2019, and quickly became an asset to both our 
team and our district. His expertise, sincerity, thoughtfulness, quick 
wit, and always pleasant demeanor made him fast friends with so many in 
our community with a wide range of personalities for sure. He has 
touched so many lives, and he has made more of an impact than he 
realizes.
  Mr. Speaker, I could rattle off a list of wins and crucial behind-
the-scenes tasks attributed to Matt, but we would be standing here for 
quite a while. So to be brief, I want to thank him from the bottom of 
my heart for his many incredible efforts not just for Team Fitzpatrick, 
but for so many organizations, schools, businesses, local government 
officials, municipalities, and the people across Pennsylvania's First 
Congressional District.
  Matt does all things with passion, and he has given so much of his 
heart to our community. So much of what has been accomplished over the 
past 2 years would not have been possible without Matt's contributions.
  Matt's drive, determination, positivity, and compassion are a winning 
combination and truly a rarity in this world. I believe this is why he 
has been and will continue to be so successful in all walks of life. He 
recognizes the importance and value in differing opinions and how we 
can learn from those who think differently from us; and to produce 
success, we often need to think outside the box; and to best serve our 
community and our country, we must give everything we have and never 
give up. He has led our team for over 2 years in this manner, inspiring 
creativity, collaboration, and passion throughout the ranks.
  Matt's most admirable quality is his resiliency. I have spoken to 
Matt's mom, Zena, who talked about the fact that his road to get here 
was full of challenges, bumps, twists, and turns; yet he faces each one 
of them with an open mind and looks at them as an opportunity to learn 
and to improve and grow better.

[[Page H1743]]

  From an early age, Matt's love of baseball was apparent. He would 
spend hours and hours practicing and throwing a ball against a wall; 
and once on the field, his eyes and smile reflected his unbridled 
enthusiasm and deep-rooted passion for the game. On the field, he was 
in complete control and nothing else mattered. Simply to be there in 
uniform along with his teammates was a great feeling for him.
  Then, in seventh grade, he developed a tumor on his spine. After 
three extensive surgeries, Mr. Speaker, he was told he could not play 
the game anymore. For most kids, that heart-wrenching gut punch would 
be a pivotal moment in their life, one in which they would give up in 
defeat. But not Matt Gruda. Faced with a challenge and the unknown, he 
decided to seize on the opportunity, becoming the youngest assistant 
coach and umpire in the history of the league. He confronted his 
adversity, not viewing it as a stumbling block, but as a stepping stone 
to success. He has continued to build stepping stones to success with 
every challenge he has faced.
  In speaking with the people who know Matt best, they described him as 
someone who does not hold a grudge; someone who is always looking on 
the bright side of things; someone who is kind, considerate, and is 
always eager to make you smile; someone who is a good friend, a caring 
brother, and a wonderful son; and someone whom you would always want on 
your team.
  I know that I am grateful to have had Matt on our team for the past 2 
years. He will always have an honorary spot on our bench. As a mentor, 
Mr. Speaker, I stand here today very proud of what Matt has 
accomplished and so excited for him to take this next chapter by storm. 
He is a bright, talented, and determined young man, and I look forward 
to seeing all that he will accomplish in life.
  On behalf of our entire team and our entire community, we thank Matt.

                          ____________________