.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will certainly end up being the very first specific women's professional athlete to become awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt declared Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had actually passed the House of Panels and also will be delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to recognize Master, the tennis Hall of Famer as well as protestor, had actually already passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, mentioned in a claim that King's "life-time of campaigning for and also effort modified the garden for girls as well as females on the court, in the class, and the office." The expense was introduced in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong match of all time. The award, granted through Our lawmakers for distinguished accomplishments and also additions to community, has actually formerly been provided athletes, consisting of baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente as well as golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had actually currently been actually granted the Governmental Medal of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she has "busted barricades, led uncharted courses, and encouraged a great number of people to stand up proudly with courage and also view in the defend what corrects.".