.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will end up being the initial specific women's professional athlete to become rewarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed your home of Panels as well as will be actually sent to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer as well as lobbyist, had actually actually passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, mentioned in a declaration that King's "life-time of advocacy as well as hard work altered the garden for women and gals on the courtroom, in the classroom, and the office." The expense was actually offered in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The award, rewarded by Our lawmakers for prominent achievements and also additions to culture, has previously been actually provided athletes, consisting of pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente as well as golfers Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had already been actually granted the Governmental Award of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she has "damaged barriers, led unexplored courses, and encouraged a great number of individuals to stand up proudly with guts and also conviction in the defend what corrects.".