Pence received the award for his refusal to go along with President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election.

"By God’s grace I did my duty that day to support the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States of America,” former vice president says.

The Profile in Courage Award, named for a book Kennedy published in 1957 before he became president, honors public officials who take principled stands despite the potential political or personal consequences. Previous recipients of the award include former Presidents Barack Obama, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford.