WASHINGTON (AP) — Billie Jean King will become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsyl
Naila-Jean Meyers of the Minnesota Star Tribune and Sally Jenkins of The Washington Post post for a photo with Billie Jean King before the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed the House of Representatives and would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.
The bill to honor King, the tennis Hall of Famer and activist, had already passed unanimously in the Senate. Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement that King’s “lifetime of advocacy and hard work changed the landscape for women and girls on the court, in the classroom, and the workplace.” The bill was introduced last September on the 50th anniversary of King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” still the most-watched tennis match of all-time. The medal, awarded by Congress for distinguished achievements and contributions to society, has previously been given to athletes including baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente, and golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer.
King had already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, says she has “broken barriers, led uncharted paths, and inspired countless people to stand proudly with courage and conviction in the fight for what is right.”
Congressional Gold Medal Female Athlete Advocacy House Of Representatives President Joe Biden Battle Of The Sexes Lifetime Of Achievements
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Billie Jean King set to earn another honor with the Congressional Gold MedalBillie Jean King will become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Tuesday that their bipartisan legislation had passed the House of Representatives and would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Read more »
Billie Jean King moves closer to earning the Congressional Gold MedalTwo members of the House of Representatives say the have lined up enough votes to make Billie Jean King the first individual female athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Reps.
Read more »
Billie Jean King could become first individual female athlete to get Congressional Gold MedalTennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King is known for breaking barriers. Now she’s slated to break another one as the likely recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal.
Read more »
Billie Jean King advocates for women's baseball inception, her ‘first true love'Tennis legend Billie Jean King is set to be an executive producer for the documentary “See Her Be Her,” which covers women’s baseball around the world.
Read more »
US Open begins at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in QueensSecurity and traffic reduction have become top concerns for NYC officials ahead of the start of the 2024 US Open.
Read more »
Stephen King Book Ban: Will Elon Musk Defend King's Freedom of Speech?Could this be an opportunity for Twitter owner and self-proclaimed 'free speech defender' Elon Musk to finally step up, put aside his personal issues, and do whatever he can to defend bestselling author (and thorn in Musk's side) Stephen King? It sure would see that Gov.
Read more »