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Billie Jean King would be the first individual female athlete to earn Congress's highest honor

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema's bipartisan bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King - a tennis Hall of Famer and advocate for women's equality in sports.

Sinema introduced the bipartisan bill with Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.).

"A fierce athlete and advocate, Billie Jean King shattered barriers and opened doors for countless women and girls. I'm proud the Senate came together to pass our bill awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal - I look forward to it becoming law," said Sinema.

"We are incredibly excited that the Senate has passed the bill to award Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal, which represents a significant milestone in the efforts to recognize her with this distinction," said Dr. Brian Hainline, United States Tennis Association Chairman of the Board and President. "We would like to especially thank Senators Sinema, Gillibrand, and Capito for their leadership in support of the bill in recognition of Billie's lifelong work to advance equal rights for women in all areas of life. We hope that the House will now follow their lead, and make Billie Jean King the first individual female athlete to be awarded with this tremendous honor."

"Billie Jean King is a living legend, a trailblazing icon whose success on the tennis court is matched by her pioneering work for gender equality off it," said Senator Gillibrand. "No one could be more fitting to receive the first Congressional Gold Medal awarded to an individual woman athlete than Billie Jean King. Now that this bill has passed the Senate, I will be working alongside our bipartisan House partners to get it signed into law."

"It would be hard to think of someone who has done more to advance women and girls in sports than Billie Jean King," Senator Capito said. "Billie Jean King has been an inspiration for female athletes and to sports fans around the world- not only for her incredible talent on the tennis court but also for her determination in fighting for women to receive equal pay. I'm thrilled to see our legislation to award her the Congressional Gold Medal for her efforts pass the Senate unanimously, and I hope my House colleagues will do the same and pass this legislation to honor this legendary pioneer in sports."

Billie Jean King would be the first individual female athlete to earn the Congressional Gold Medal - the highest honor Congress can bestow on an individual or institution. The medal recognizes Billie Jean King's leadership advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education and society at large.