South Carolina's U.S. Rep. James Clyburn receives nation's highest civilian honor

South Carolina's U.S. Rep. James Clyburn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on Friday.

President Joe Biden presented the medal to Clyburn and 18 other recipients at the White House on Friday.

“President Biden often says there is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together. These 19 Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations, and businesses that shaped America for the better. They are the pinnacle of leadership in their fields. They consistently demonstrated over their careers the power of community, hard work, and service,” an announcement from the Biden administration stated ahead of the event.

Clyburn, a three-term Democrat, was chosen for the medal as he has “transformed the lives of millions of Americans and created a freer country,” according to the statement.

Clyburn was first elected to office in 1993. During his time in Congress, he served as the assistant Democratic leader and majority whip.

He has led efforts to restore historic buildings on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He also was the first Black advisor to a South Carolina governor when he joined the staff of Gov. John West in 1971.

"It makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?" Biden said after presenting each of the medals at a late-afternoon ceremony in the White House East Room. He called the recipients "19 incredible people, whose relentless curiosity, ingenuity and hope, have kept faith in a better tomorrow."

Biden is a past recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, receiving the honor as vice president from President Barack Obama in 2017 before the end of their second term.

Biden said Clyburn had "guided South Carolina and our country with a steady hand and an enormous heart over the last half century." He added: "And I can say this without fear of contradiction: I would not be standing here as president making these awards were it not for Jim."

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Other recipients include:

◦Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, entrepreneur and philanthropist, revolutionized the financial information industry and transformed New York City’s education, environment, public health, and the arts.

◦Rev. Greg Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest, founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang-intervention and rehabilitation program.

◦Sen. Elizabeth Dole, former secretary of transportation, secretary of labor, and president of the American Red Cross.

◦Phil Donahue, a journalist and television pioneer who pioneered the daytime issue-oriented television talk show.

◦Medgar Evers fought for his country in World War II and returned home to lead the fight against segregation in Mississippi. He was murdered at his home at age 37 in 1963.

◦Al Gore, a former vice president, U.S. Senator, and member of the House of Representatives won the popular vote but accepted the outcome of a disputed presidential election. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

◦Clarence B. Jones, a civil rights activist and lawyer who helped draft Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

◦John Kerry, a former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and the first special presidential envoy for climate. His bravery in combat during the Vietnam War earned him the Silver Star and Bronze Star.

◦Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a five-term U.S. Senator and New Jersey’s longest-serving senator. He died in 2013 and is remembered for his work on environmental protection and consumer safety.

◦Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history. An athletic prodigy, she has won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals.

◦Opal Lee, an educator and activist known for her efforts to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.

◦Ellen Ochoa, was the first Hispanic woman in space and the second female director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Dr. Ochoa has flown in space four times and logged nearly 1,000 hours in orbit.

◦Nancy Pelosi served as the 52nd Speaker of the House and has represented San Francisco in Congress for more than 36 years. She has shaped legislative agendas and Democratic priorities for decades.

◦Jane Rigby, an astronomer who grew up in Delaware, is the chief scientist of the world’s most powerful telescope.

◦Teresa Romero is the president of the United Farm Workers and the first Latina to become president of a national union in the United States.

◦Judy Shepard is the co-founder of the Matthew Shephard Foundation, an organization created in honor of her son who was murdered in one of the nation’s most notorious anti-gay hate crimes.

◦Jim Thorpe was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. The country’s original multi-sport superstar, he went on to play professional football, baseball, and basketball while breaking down barriers on and off the field. He died in 1953.

◦Michelle Yeoh, an actress known for her groundbreaking work over four decades, recently became the first Asian to win the Academy Award for best actress.

USA Today contributed to this article. Savannah Moss covers Greenville County politics and growth/development. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her on X @Savmoss.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) receives Presidential Medal of Freedom