S 2861 United States Senate · 118th Congress

Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill authorizes the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to tennis legend Billie Jean King in recognition of her lifelong advocacy for gender equality in sports and society. The legislation specifically acknowledges her pivotal role in advancing women's rights, including her work leading to the passage of Title IX and her efforts to establish equal prize money in tennis. Under the bill, the Secretary of the Treasury would strike a gold medal featuring an image and inscription of Billie Jean King, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The medal would be presented by congressional leaders as a formal recognition of her contributions to American society. This is a commemorative honor, not a policy that creates new legal requirements or funding.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
House Passage
Sep 2024
Signed into Law
Sep 2024
Introduced Sep 20, 2023 Signed Sep 26, 2024
Floor votes · House Sep 17, 2024

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Sep 26, 2024
Signed into law
Signed by President.
executive
Sep 17, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 308 - 87 (Roll no. 419). (text: CR H5250-5251)
lower
May 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3627-3628; text: CR S3627-3628)
upper
May 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3627-3628; text: CR S3627-3628)
upper
May 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
upper
Sep 20, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
upper
Sep 20, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 68 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
DDemocratic
NY
n/a
Co
Photo of Alex Padilla
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
CA
n/a
Co
Photo of Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
MN
n/a
Co
Photo of Angus S. King, Jr.
Angus S. King, Jr.
IIndependent
ME
n/a
Co
Photo of Ben Ray Luján
Ben Ray Luján
DDemocratic
NM
n/a
Co
Photo of Benjamin L. Cardin
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Bernard Sanders
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
VT
n/a
Co
Photo of Brian Schatz
Brian Schatz
DDemocratic
HI
n/a
Co
Photo of Catherine Cortez Masto
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
NV
n/a
Co
Photo of Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Christopher A. Coons
Christopher A. Coons
DDemocratic
DE
n/a