.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master are going to become the initial personal ladies's athlete to be awarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had passed your home of Representatives as well as would certainly be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor Master, the tennis Lobby of Famer and protestor, had already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a statement that Master's "life-time of advocacy as well as effort altered the garden for women and also ladies on the courthouse, in the class, and the work environment." The expense was actually offered in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis suit of all time. The award, granted through Congress for recognized accomplishments as well as contributions to community, has actually formerly been actually offered to professional athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and golf players Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been rewarded the Presidential Award of Liberty in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she has "broken barriers, led unexplored pathways, and also inspired plenty of folks to stand up proudly with tenacity as well as view in the defend what is right.".