.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean King are going to come to be the first specific women's sportsmen to be rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Jacket announced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had actually passed the House of Agents and would certainly be delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor King, the ping pong Lobby of Famer and also activist, had currently passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that Master's "life-time of campaigning for and effort altered the landscape for women and also females on the court, in the classroom, and also the work environment." The expense was launched in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong match of all time. The medal, awarded through Our lawmakers for recognized achievements and also contributions to culture, has formerly been offered to athletes, featuring pitcher Jackie Robinson as well as Roberto Clemente and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been rewarded the Presidential Medal of Liberty in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she possesses "broken barriers, led undiscovered courses, and inspired numerous folks to stand proudly along with tenacity and also sentiment in the defend what is right.".