.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will become the first specific women's athlete to become granted the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had actually passed the House of Representatives as well as will be sent to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize King, the tennis Hallway of Famer and activist, had actually presently passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a declaration that King's "lifetime of campaigning for as well as hard work altered the landscape for girls and gals on the courthouse, in the class, and the place of work." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong suit of all time. The medal, granted through Congress for recognized achievements and also payments to society, has actually previously been offered to sportsmens, including pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente as well as golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had actually currently been actually awarded the Presidential Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she has "damaged barriers, led unexplored pathways, as well as influenced countless individuals to stand happily along with guts and also sentiment in the defend what corrects.".