.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly end up being the 1st personal girls's professional athlete to become rewarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had actually passed your house of Representatives and also will be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize Master, the tennis Lobby of Famer and protestor, had actually actually passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a claim that King's "lifetime of advocacy as well as hard work changed the landscape for girls and girls on the court, in the class, and also the work environment." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The award, rewarded through Our lawmakers for notable achievements as well as payments to society, has recently been given to professional athletes, including pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and also golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been actually rewarded the Governmental Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, mentions she has "faulty barriers, led undiscovered courses, and inspired countless people to stand proudly with guts and also strong belief in the fight for what corrects.".