.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will definitely end up being the first private females's athlete to be rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey declared Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had actually passed your house of Representatives as well as would be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize Master, the ping pong Lobby of Famer as well as activist, had actually already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, mentioned in a statement that King's "life-time of advocacy and also effort changed the garden for ladies and ladies on the courthouse, in the class, and also the place of work." The bill was actually 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 award, granted by Our lawmakers for notable accomplishments as well as contributions to culture, has actually earlier been provided sportsmens, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente as well as golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually actually been awarded the Governmental Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, mentions she possesses "defective obstacles, led unexplored pathways, and influenced plenty of people to stand up happily with tenacity and also conviction in the fight for what corrects.".