.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will definitely come to be the first specific ladies's athlete to be awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had actually passed our home of Panels and also would certainly be delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer as well as activist, had actually actually passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a declaration that Master's "lifetime of campaigning for and hard work changed the landscape for girls and ladies on the courtroom, in the class, and also the workplace." The expense was launched in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis suit of all time. The award, rewarded by Our lawmakers for prominent success and contributions to community, has actually formerly been actually offered to professional athletes, including baseball players Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had actually actually been actually granted the Governmental Medal of Liberty in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican politician, states she possesses "busted barricades, led undiscovered paths, and also motivated plenty of individuals to stand proudly with tenacity and view in the fight for what corrects.".