President Joe Biden will present the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 individuals at the White House on Thursday, including Liz Cheney, the former Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming. Cheney has been a strong critic of former President Donald Trump, and her leadership on the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack earned her national recognition.
The medal is given to U.S. citizens who have made significant contributions to the country or their fellow citizens. Cheney will be honored for her service in Congress and her role as vice chair of the committee investigating the Capitol attack. Her efforts, including speaking out for democracy, have made her a target of criticism from Trump and his supporters.
The ceremony will take place at the White House on January 2, 2025, where Biden will also honor others, including:
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) – Chair of the January 6 committee.
Former Senators Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) – Both have a long history of service to the nation.
Mary Bonauto – Advocate for marriage equality who argued before the Supreme Court in the landmark Obergefell case.
Bill Bradley – Former NBA star, U.S. Senator, and presidential candidate.
Diane Carlson Evans – Vietnam War nurse and founder of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation.
Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.) – Former Senator who advocated for health care reform and women’s rights.
Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi (posthumous) – Challenged the U.S. government’s internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.
Other recipients include military leaders, civil rights advocates, educators, and activists who have made lasting impacts on American society.
The Presidential Citizens Medal honors those who have shown integrity, courage, and dedication to improving the nation and serving its ideals.