.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will come to be the very first private females's athlete to become granted the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had passed the House of Agents and also will be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize King, the tennis Hall of Famer and also activist, had already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a claim that King's "life-time of advocacy and effort transformed the landscape for females and women on the court, in the classroom, and the place of work." The bill was presented in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexes," still the most-watched ping pong match of perpetuity. The award, awarded through Congress for notable achievements and contributions to culture, has actually previously been actually given to athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente as well as golf players Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been awarded the Governmental Medal of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, mentions she possesses "faulty obstacles, led uncharted roads, and encouraged countless folks to stand up happily along with nerve as well as sentiment in the fight for what corrects.".