Sixty-four years after becoming the first Black player to play in an NHL game, hockey pioneer Willie O'Ree is set to receive the highest award given by Congress.

On Wednesday, the NHL announced that the House passed the bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to O'Ree.

The Senate passed the bipartisan legislation unanimously back in July.

News of the vote came one day after the Boston Bruins honored O'Ree by retiring his jersey.

"Receiving the Congressional Gold Medal is simply one of the greatest honors of my life," O'Ree said. "There are no words to describe how special the last few days have been, with the Boston Bruins retiring my number and U.S. Congress voting for this amazing recognition. I will always be humbled and grateful to be a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, and I am especially thankful to everyone who worked so hard to make this moment happen."

In 2019, Republican Sen. Tim Scott, and Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, announced their bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to O'Ree.

O'Ree became the first Black player to play in the NHL when he debuted with the Bruins in 1958.

"I will never forget how my teammates in the Bruins locker room accepted me as one of their own," O'Ree said as he accepted the honor. "This was a time when some of the fans and opposing players were not ready to see a Black man in the NHL."

O'Ree became the 12th player to have his jersey retired by the Bruins.

As the Senate impeachment trial closed for the day on Friday, Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell joined together in a resolution to award Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman a Congressional Gold Medal.

The entire Senate gave a rousing ovation to Goodman, showing a rare and refreshing moment of bipartisanship in the chamber.

Goodman was among the Capitol Police officers who responded to a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the US Capitol on Jan. 6 during the counting of Electoral College votes.

"The world learned about the incredible, incredible bravery of Officer Goodman on that fateful day," Schumer said. "Here in this trial, we saw a new video, powerful video showing calmness under pressure, his courage in the line of duty, his foresight in the midst of chaos and his willingness to make himself a target of the mob's rage so that others might reach safety. Officer Goodman is in the chamber tonight. Officer Goodman. Thank you."

Security camera footage released this week showed Goodman rushing toward Sen. Mitt Romney who was outside the Senate chamber. Goodman helped Romney get away from the rioters moments before they reached the area outside of the Senate.

Goodman is then seen coaxing the rioters away from the Senate chamber. House impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett said senators were still inside the chamber at that moment.

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a similar proposal to award a Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Capitol Police for their actions on Jan. 6. One-hundred and forty officers were injured and one was killed amid the violence at the Capitol. Two other officers died by suicide in the days following the insurrection.

While many officers have been praised for their heroism, law enforcement leaders were roundly criticized for their lack of preparation for the Jan. 6 riot. The previous chief of the Capitol Police, the House sergeant-at-arms and the Senate sergeant-at-arms all resigned in the wake of the riot.