.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will definitely come to be the first personal girls's professional athlete to become granted the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan regulation had actually passed your house of Panels and will be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to honor Master, the tennis Lobby of Famer and also lobbyist, had actually presently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a declaration that Master's "lifetime of advocacy as well as hard work modified the garden for women as well as gals on the court, in the classroom, and also the work environment." The bill was actually introduced in September 2023 on the 50th anniversary of Master's victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Struggle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong suit of all time. The award, rewarded by Our lawmakers for recognized achievements and also contributions to culture, has actually previously been provided sportsmens, consisting of pitcher Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente and golf players Port Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been granted the Presidential Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she possesses "busted obstacles, led uncharted courses, and also encouraged a great number of individuals to stand happily along with tenacity and sentiment in the fight for what corrects.".