.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will definitely become the first specific ladies's athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey declared Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had passed your house of Reps as well as will be sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor King, the tennis Lobby of Famer and also activist, had actually actually passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a claim that Master's "lifetime of campaigning for and hard work changed the landscape for females and women on the courthouse, in the class, and the place of work." The costs was presented in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The medal, awarded by Our lawmakers for distinguished achievements as well as payments to culture, has recently been actually given to athletes, including pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente as well as golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually presently been actually granted the Presidential Award of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she has "defective barricades, led unexplored roads, and also motivated many individuals to stand up proudly along with courage as well as view in the fight for what corrects.".