President Joe Biden is scheduled to announce 20 recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday.
According to a White House press release, this award is given to “Americans who have rendered exemplary service to their country or their fellow citizens.”
“The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice,” the press release added.
One of the most notable recipients is former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney for her actions as vice chair of the committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The press release said she used her voice and walked across the aisle to defend the American ideals of freedom, dignity and decency. The move comes as Cheney has come under fire from fellow party member President-elect Trump for his role on the January 6 committee.
Rep. Liz Cheney speaks with ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jon Karl on August 19, 2022, in Washington.
ABC News
Biden will also honor Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, who chaired the January 6 House Committee.
Biden will honor other former members of Congress, including Carolyn McCarthy, Bill Bradley, Nancy Landon Kassebaum and Ted Kaufman, among others.
President Joe Biden makes a statement at Camp David, Maryland on January 1, 2025.
Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images
The list also includes various advocates and experts. Their contributions are wide-ranging, from law to healthcare, from photography to education.
Biden will present the awards to the recipients at a ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
Below is a list of recipients, along with brief biographies provided by the White House.
Mary L. Bonauto
Lawyer and activist Mary Bonauto first fought to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine before the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Before arguing before Hodges, which established marriage equality as the law of the land. His efforts made millions of families whole and created a more perfect Union.
Bill Bradley
Growing up in small-town Missouri, Bill Bradley displayed a dedication to basketball that would define his courage, discipline, and selflessness. A two-time NBA champion and New York Knicks Hall of Famer, he served three terms as a United States senator from New Jersey and ran for president, still advancing tax reform, water rights, civil rights, and more. today trying to dig deep into our common humanity with humility and heart.
Frank K. Butler, Jr.
As a pioneering innovator, Navy Seal, and leader in diving medicine, Dr. Frank Butler introduced Tactical Combat Casualty Care to the medical world, setting new standards for the use of tourniquets not only for war injuries, but also for injuries in everyday civilian life. It has transformed battlefield trauma care for the United States military and saved countless lives.
Elizabeth L. Cheney
Through two decades of public service, including as a Congresswoman from Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6th terrorist attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and crossed the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. . dignity And decency. Her integrity and courage remind us of what is possible if we work together.
Christopher J. Dodd
Chris Dodd has served our Nation for over 50 years as a respected United States Congressman, Senator, lawyer and diplomat. From advancing kindergartens, to reforming our financial markets, to fostering partnerships throughout the Western Hemisphere, he has kept America a beacon to the world.
Diane Carlson Evans
After serving as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, Diane Carlson Evans founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation to ensure that female service members received the recognition they deserve, one of our Nation’s most sacred duties. His duty and devotion embody the best of who we are as Americans.
Joseph L. Galloway
(posthumous)
From Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, Joe Galloway spent decades sharing first-hand accounts of the horror, humanity and heroism of combat. Known as a soldier’s reporter and soldier’s friend, he embedded himself with American troops, rescued wounded soldiers under fire, and became the only civilian awarded the United States Army’s Bronze Star for combat valor as one of the most respected war correspondents of his time. .
Nancy Landon Kassebaum
The first woman to represent Kansas, Nancy Kassebaum was a force in the United States Senate. From protecting a woman’s right to choose to reforming health care, she stood up for what she believed in, even if it meant being alone, and reached the other side of the aisle to do what she believed was right.
Ted Kaufman
For decades, including as a United States Senator from Delaware, Ted Kaufman has served the nation with integrity and honesty. The Senate master, who stood up for everyday Americans and public servants, has been at the forefront of the resulting debates about the courts, the financial system and more.
Carolyn McCarthy
As a nurse, Carolyn McCarthy had an instinct to heal and serve. When her husband and son were gunned down on a local commuter train, she became such a compelling advocate that she was recruited to run for Congress. He spent 18 years advocating for gun safety measures, including better background checks, as a citizen legislator dedicated to protecting the well-being of our Nation.
Louis Lorenzo Redding
(posthumous)
A pioneering civil rights advocate, Louis was the first black attorney admitted to the bar in Delaware, where he argued against segregation in Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. In the leading Gebhart cases—Brown v. Establishing the legal framework of the Board of Education. . A towering figure and generous mentor, he opened the doors of equity and opportunity for all Americans.
Bobby Sager
Boston native Bobby Sager travels the world as a family- and empathy-centered photographer and philanthropist, using his camera and influence to connect with people in war-torn countries, capture their hope and humanity, and inspire others to take action and see. a complete portrait of the planet we all share.
Collins J. Seitz
(posthumous)
As a state judge in Delaware, Judge Seitz was the first judge to integrate a white public school in America, dismantling the doctrine of “separate but equal” with detail and respect for the equal protection clause of our Constitution’s 14th Amendment. His bold judgment broke down walls of separation to help us see each other as Americans.
Eleanor Smeal
From leading mass protests and pushing for women’s suffrage in the 1970s to spearheading progress toward equal pay and helping pass the Violence Against Women Act into law, Ellie Smeal forced the nation to not only include women in political discourse, but to value them as power brokers and equals. His strategic vision for more than 40 years is America’s quest to create a more just and fair world.
Bennie G. Thompson
Born and raised in segregated Mississippi, as a college student inspired by the Civil Rights movement, Bennie Thompson volunteered in campaigns and registered black southern voters. That call to serve eventually led him to Congress, where he chaired the House January 6th Committee, at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to the truth.
Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi
(posthumous)
In a shameful chapter in our Nation’s history, Mitsuye Endo was imprisoned along with over 120,000 Japanese Americans. Undaunted, he challenged the injustice and reached the Supreme Court. His decision allowed thousands of Japanese Americans to return home and rebuild their lives, reminding us that we are a Nation that stands for freedom for all.
Thomas J. Vallely
A US Marine in the Vietnam War, Thomas Vallely has never given up on peace. For five decades, he has brought Vietnam and the United States together—creating Fulbright University Vietnam, fostering greater economic and cultural exchange, and overcoming the dangers of the past to realize the promise of the future. His service remains a symbol of American leadership in the world.
Frances M. Visco
As president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Fran Visco has fought tirelessly and fearlessly to increase federal funding for breast cancer research, early detection education and access to women’s health. As a breast cancer survivor, she turned pain into a goal, changed the landscape of breast cancer advocacy, and has become a powerful symbol of hope for the Nation.
Paula S. Wallace
Paula Wallace was a lifelong educator and arts pioneer who dreamed of a school that would transform the way we think about professional education. Establishing the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design and serving as its president, he has guided thousands of students into the creative industries.
Evan Wolfson
Leading the movement for marriage equality, Evan Wolfson helped millions of people in all 50 states win the basic right to love, marry and be themselves. For 32 years, beginning with an impressive law school thesis, Evan Wolfson worked with singular vision and tireless optimism to change not only the law, but society—pioneering a political book for change and sharing its lessons, even now, with countless causes around the world.
