.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King are going to come to be the 1st private ladies's professional athlete to become awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt announced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had passed your house of Representatives and would be actually sent out to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to recognize Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer and also protestor, had presently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that Master's "life-time of campaigning for and also effort changed the yard for females and also women on the courtroom, in the classroom, as well as the work environment." The bill was offered 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 perpetuity. The medal, rewarded by Congress for notable accomplishments and also payments to community, has actually previously been provided athletes, consisting of pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and also golf enthusiasts Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually actually been awarded the Governmental Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has "busted barriers, led unexplored paths, and inspired a great number of folks to stand up proudly with nerve as well as view in the defend what corrects.".