.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will come to be the 1st personal ladies's athlete to become granted the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had passed your house of Reps as well as would certainly be actually sent out to President Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to honor King, the ping pong Hall of Famer as well as lobbyist, had actually presently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a claim that Master's "life time of advocacy as well as effort altered the landscape for girls and also girls on the courthouse, in the class, and also the place of work." The costs was introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The award, awarded by Congress for prominent accomplishments and payments to culture, has actually previously been provided to athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente and golf players Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually presently been awarded the Presidential Medal of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she possesses "damaged obstacles, led unexplored pathways, and motivated many people to stand proudly along with guts and also principle in the defend what is right.".