.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will definitely end up being the first private girls's professional athlete to become awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey introduced Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had passed your home of Panels and will be actually sent out to Head of state Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor Master, the ping pong Hall of Famer and activist, had already passed with one voice in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, mentioned in a statement that Master's "lifetime of campaigning for and also effort altered the yard for women and also women on the courthouse, in the class, and also the place of work." The bill was presented in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of Master's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "War of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched tennis match of all time. The award, granted by Congress for prominent success and contributions to society, has actually earlier been actually provided professional athletes, including baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente as well as golf players Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson as well as Arnold Palmer.King had actually already been actually rewarded the Governmental Medal of Flexibility in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, states she possesses "busted barricades, led uncharted pathways, and also inspired numerous people to stand proudly with guts and also conviction in the fight for what is right.".