A bipartisan group of three senators and two House members are set to introduce a bill Wednesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King, a tennis Hall of Famer and advocate for women in the game, from the creation of the professional tour to equal prize money.
Leading the charge to award King are:
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.)
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.)
This week marked 50 years since King’s victory in the “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs, still the the most-watched tennis event in history.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can bestow on an individual or institution. Congressional Gold Medal bills must have at least two-thirds of the respective chamber co-sponsoring the measure before it can be considered.
Individual male athletes who have been awarded the honor include golfers Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer and baseball players Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente.
