.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will certainly become the first specific girls's professional athlete to be rewarded the Legislative Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania as well as Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt declared Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had passed the House of Reps and also would be actually delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The costs to recognize Master, the tennis Hallway of Famer and also lobbyist, had actually already passed all in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a statement that Master's "life-time of campaigning for as well as effort modified the yard for women and also ladies on the court, in the class, as well as the place of work." The bill was launched 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 recognized accomplishments and also contributions to culture, has actually previously been provided to athletes, including pitcher Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been actually rewarded the Governmental Medal of Independence in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has "damaged barriers, led unexplored paths, as well as inspired many people to stand up proudly with nerve and also strong belief in the defend what corrects.".