.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will become the initial personal females's professional athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket declared Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had actually passed the House of Representatives and would be sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor Master, the ping pong Hallway of Famer as well as protestor, had already passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a declaration that Master's "life-time of advocacy and also effort changed the garden for females and ladies on the courtroom, in the classroom, and the place of work." The expense was actually launched in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The award, rewarded through Congress for prominent achievements as well as contributions to society, has recently been actually given to professional athletes, featuring baseball players Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had currently been actually rewarded the Governmental Award of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she possesses "broken barriers, led undiscovered roads, and also motivated many individuals to stand up happily along with nerve as well as sentiment in the defend what is right.".