.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly come to be the very first specific women's athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt declared Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had actually passed the House of Panels as well as would be sent to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor King, the tennis Hall of Famer and also lobbyist, had already passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a claim that Master's "life time of campaigning for as well as hard work modified the garden for women and girls on the courtroom, in the class, and the work environment." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes," still the most-watched ping pong match of perpetuity. The medal, granted by Our lawmakers for distinguished achievements as well as additions to community, has previously been actually given to sportsmens, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente as well as golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually actually been granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she possesses "busted barricades, led undiscovered pathways, and influenced countless individuals to stand up happily along with courage and also sentiment in the defend what corrects.".