.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King will certainly end up being the very first personal women's sportsmen to become granted the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and also Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had actually passed your house of Representatives as well as would certainly be actually sent to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize King, the tennis Hallway of Famer as well as protestor, had presently passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, stated in a claim that Master's "life-time of proposal and also effort altered the garden for females and girls on the court, in the class, and also the work environment." The costs was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexes," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The medal, awarded by Our lawmakers for prominent success and also payments to culture, has actually recently been provided athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente as well as golf players Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had presently been rewarded the Governmental Award of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has "busted barriers, led undiscovered courses, and also influenced plenty of individuals to stand happily along with guts as well as view in the fight for what corrects.".