.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King are going to become the very first specific ladies's professional athlete to be rewarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had passed the House of Representatives and also would certainly be actually delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor King, the ping pong Lobby of Famer as well as protestor, had actually already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a claim that Master's "life-time of proposal and also effort transformed the landscape for ladies and females on the courtroom, in the class, and also the work environment." The expense was actually launched in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The medal, awarded through Our lawmakers for distinguished success and also additions to society, has previously been actually given to sportsmens, consisting of baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente and also golf players Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually currently been actually rewarded the Governmental Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, states she has "busted barricades, led unexplored courses, and inspired numerous folks to stand up proudly along with guts as well as conviction in the defend what is right.".