.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly become the first private females's sportsmen to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had actually passed the House of Agents as well as would be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor Master, the ping pong Hallway of Famer and also activist, had already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that King's "life time of advocacy and also effort modified the landscape for females and ladies on the court, in the class, and the work environment." The costs was introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of all time. The medal, granted through Our lawmakers for recognized success as well as additions to community, has previously been actually offered to professional athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente as well as golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had already been actually rewarded the Governmental Award of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she possesses "defective barriers, led undiscovered pathways, and inspired plenty of people to stand proudly along with courage and also strong belief in the defend what is right.".