,,iii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #eji  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ba1 #bjad ,ms4 
,mikulski 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,c>d97       
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
consid]$ & agre$ to  ,,resolution  ,a   
resolution honor+ ! extraord9>y &       
c\rage\s life ( ,mattie ,/epanek4       
,:]eas ,mat!w ,mattie ,joseph ,?addeus  
,/epanek1 0 born on ,july #ag1 #aiij1 9 
,rockville1 ,m>yl&2 ,:]eas ,mattie      
,/epanek 0 born ) a r>e =m ( ,muscul>   
,dy/rophy--,dysautonomic ,mito*ondrial  
,myopa?y2 ,:]eas ! sibl+s ( ,mattie     
,/epanek--,katie1 ,/evie1 & ,jamie--7   
diagnos$ ) ! same r>e disease2 ,:]eas   
,mattie ,/epanek began writ+ poetry1    
%ort /ories1 & essays to deal ) grief   
ov] ! dea? ( 8 sibl+s2 ,:]eas ! writ+s (
 ,mattie ,/epanek reflect$ 8 deep       
und]/&+ ( our ev]-evolv+ _w & ! ne$ =   
hope & peace2 ,:]eas ,mattie ,/epanek   
became a #g-"t ,new ,york ,times        
be/-sell+ au?or2 ,:]eas ,mattie ,/epanek
 gave inspiration & educational spee*es 

to audi5ces rang+ f s*ool *ildr5 to     
bus9ess lead]s & politicians2 ,:]eas    
,mattie ,/epanek spoke ab\t             
spirituality1 disability1 education1 &  
heal? c>e1 deliv]+ a message ( hope &   
peace to 8 audi5ces2 ,:]eas ! words (   
,mattie ,/epanek inspir$ millions ( p   
ar\nd ! _w1 includ+ ! #ci? ,presid5t ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 :o 0 a fri5d ( ,mattie &
 deliv]$ 8 eulogy2 ,:]eas ,mattie       
,/epanek engag$ 9 public s]vice1 work+ )
 ,*ildr5's ,hospice ,int]national to    
improve guidel9es = ! heal? & hospice   
c>e ( *ildr5 & s]v+ z a #c-t]m ,national
 ,goodwill ,ambassador = ! ,muscul>     
,dy/rophy ,association2 ,:]eas ,mattie  
,/epanek has be5 honor$ ) num]\s aw>ds1 
dur+ 8 lifetime & po/hum\sly1 includ+ ! 
,*ildr5's ,hope ,m$al ( ,honor &        
induction into ! ,kids ,hall ( ,fame2   
,:]eas ,mattie ,/epanek pass$ away on   
,june #bb1 #bjjd1 at ,*ildr5's ,national
 ,m$ical ,c5t] 9 ,wa%+ton1 ,d4,c42      
,:]eas ! "m ( ,mattie cont9ues to raise 
aw>5ess ab\t ! message ( hope & peace t 

,mattie deliv]$ & l$ ! ef=t to create ! 
,mattie ,j4,t4 ,/epanek ,p>k 9          
,rockville1 ,m>yl&2 ,:]eas ! ,mattie    
,/epanek ,f\ndation celebrates ,july    
#ag? z ,mattie ,/epanek ,_w ,peace ,day2
 & ,:]eas recogniz+ ! #bd? bir?day (    
,mattie ,/epanek honors ! compassion &  
d$ication to hope t ,mattie embodi$3    
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,s5ate honors !  
extraord9>y life & legacy ( ,mat!w      
,mattie ,/epanek4