.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly come to be the initial personal ladies's sportsmen to become granted the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had actually passed your house of Representatives and also would certainly be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to recognize Master, the ping pong Hallway of Famer and also protestor, had actually passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a declaration that Master's "life-time of campaigning for and also hard work altered the yard for ladies as well as women on the courthouse, in the classroom, and also the workplace." The bill was offered in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of all time. The award, granted through Our lawmakers for distinguished success and additions to community, has actually earlier been actually offered to athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and golf enthusiasts Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Liberty in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has "defective obstacles, led uncharted paths, as well as influenced many people to stand proudly with nerve and also conviction in the fight for what is right.".