.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will definitely become the first private ladies's athlete to be rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey declared Tuesday that their bipartisan regulations had actually passed your home of Representatives as well as would certainly be sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor Master, the ping pong Lobby of Famer as well as protestor, had actually presently passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a claim that King's "life time of advocacy and also hard work transformed the garden for girls and also females on the court, in the classroom, as well as the workplace." The expense was offered in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexes," still the most-watched ping pong suit of all time. The medal, awarded by Congress for distinguished accomplishments and also additions to community, has actually earlier been actually provided athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente as well as golf enthusiasts Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually currently been actually awarded the Presidential Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, claims she possesses "busted barricades, led undiscovered courses, and encouraged many individuals to stand up proudly with nerve and also strong belief in the fight for what corrects.".