.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly end up being the first individual girls's professional athlete to become awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt declared Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had actually passed our home of Reps and also would certainly be actually sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to recognize King, the tennis Hall of Famer as well as activist, had actually already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a declaration that King's "life-time of advocacy and also effort modified the yard for women and gals on the courthouse, in the class, and also the place of work." The costs was offered in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's success over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong match of perpetuity. The award, granted through Congress for distinguished success and payments to society, has formerly been given to sportsmens, including pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and also golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had presently been actually rewarded the Presidential Award of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she has "defective barricades, led unexplored pathways, and motivated numerous folks to stand up proudly along with nerve as well as conviction in the defend what is right.".