.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will certainly end up being the first personal women's professional athlete to become rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had actually passed our home of Panels and also would be sent to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer as well as activist, had actually currently passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a declaration that King's "lifetime of advocacy and hard work altered the garden for ladies as well as women on the courthouse, in the class, and the place of work." The costs was introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The award, rewarded through Our lawmakers for recognized achievements and also additions to community, has previously been offered to sportsmens, consisting of baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and also golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had actually presently been granted the Presidential Medal of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she possesses "busted obstacles, led unexplored paths, and encouraged many folks to stand happily along with courage as well as strong belief in the defend what corrects.".