.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will end up being the very first specific females's athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had passed the House of Reps as well as will be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor King, the ping pong Lobby of Famer and activist, had already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a declaration that Master's "lifetime of campaigning for as well as hard work transformed the garden for women as well as females on the courtroom, in the classroom, as well as the office." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of perpetuity. The award, granted through Congress for notable success as well as contributions to community, has actually previously been provided to athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente as well as golf players Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually presently been actually awarded the Governmental Award of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, claims she has "busted barricades, led uncharted paths, and also inspired plenty of individuals to stand happily with guts as well as sentiment in the fight for what is right.".