President Joe Biden signed legislation awarding tennis legend Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal, making her the first individual female athlete to receive this honor.
The bill (S. 2861) was introduced in March 2023 by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) to recognize King’s lifelong dedication to equal rights in sports and society. It passed unanimously in the Senate in May, led by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month.