from William Douglas of NHL.com,

Members of the United States Senate and lead sponsors of the Congressional Gold Medal bill are urging fellow senators to sign legislation that would award Willie O'Ree, the NHL's first black player, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress.

If approved, O'Ree would join a prestigious group of Congressional Gold Medal recipients that includes Jackie Robinson, the first black player in Major League Baseball, and civil rights pioneers Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Coretta Scott King.

"Please join us in honoring Willie O'Ree for his extraordinary contributions to sport, service and society by cosponsoring the Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act," Sens. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) wrote in 'Dear Colleague' letters.

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