Sen. McCain and Rep. Giffords among recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Former Arizona lawmakers Sen. McCain and Rep. Giffords are awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden

(KYMA, KECY) - President Joe Biden awards 17 Americans the Presidential Medal of Freedom including late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.).

"These 17 Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation - hard work, perseverance, and faith," the Biden administration writes in a statement.

The late Senator John McCain was a war hero and prisoner of war in Vietnam, including in being a part of the Senate for many years.

McCain was a two-time presidential candidate and died in 2018.

Former Representative Gabby Giffords is one of the nation's highest-profile advocate for gun safety laws after experiencing and surviving a mass shooting in 2011.