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‘Lioness’ Mikulski honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

by Mark Hensch - 11/24/15 6:14 PM ET

President Obama on Tuesday honored Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, lauding her as a “tireless advocate for women, children and seniors.”

“You don’t want to be on the wrong side of Barbara Mikulski,” the president quipped. “She has been a lioness on Capitol Hill, fighting for working families and for high-tech jobs.

{mosads}“I couldn’t be prouder to have her by my side when I signed the first law that I signed,” he added in a reference to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Mikulski, a senator since 1987, is retiring at the end of her current term next year.

“She has been a tireless advocate for women, children and seniors,” her medal’s official honor states. “Her example helped pave the way for other women into elected office.

“Her legacy will endure for all those who climb the ladder of opportunity she thought to build,” the plaudit adds.

Obama presented the nation’s highest civilian honor to 16 other recipients along with Mikulski, honoring a wide range of athletes, celebrities, former lawmakers and social activists.

The president admitted that he finds former professional baseball players Yogi Berra and Willie Mays especially inspiring.

“Nobody’s won more than this guy,” he said of Berra. “He was born to play baseball. He lived his life with pride, humility and an original, open mind.”

Of Mays, the president said: “We don’t have time to list all of Willie Mays statistics. The list goes on and on. … It’s because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for president.”

Other recipients Tuesday night included singer Barbara Streisand, filmmaker Steven Spielberg and musician power couple Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

“This is an extraordinary group of people, even by the standards of Medal of Freedom winners,” Obama said. “This is a class act. What an incredible tapestry this country is.”

Tags Awards Barack Obama Barbara Mikulski Politics Presidential Medal of Freedom