.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will become the 1st specific ladies's professional athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had actually passed your home of Representatives and also will be actually delivered to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The expense to honor Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer and protestor, had actually already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, pointed out in a claim that Master's "lifetime of proposal and hard work modified the yard for ladies as well as females on the court, in the classroom, and the office." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's success over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis suit of perpetuity. The medal, awarded by Congress for notable success and also payments to culture, has actually recently been provided to professional athletes, consisting of pitcher Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente and golf enthusiasts Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been actually rewarded the Governmental Award of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, claims she has "damaged barricades, led uncharted courses, as well as influenced a great number of people to stand happily with guts and also conviction in the fight for what is right.".