YourVoice.Now Summary
No change for most people — Congress would give Henrietta Lacks, whose cells changed medical research, a gold medal
The details
Most people would see no change in daily life. The bill would honor Henrietta Lacks with a Congressional Gold Medal after her death. In 1951, doctors at Johns Hopkins took cells from her cancer without her consent. Her cells became the first known human cells that keep growing in a lab. They helped create the polio vaccine and drugs for cancer and HIV/AIDS. The U.S. Mint would make the gold medal. It would then go to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research. The Mint could also sell bronze copies at a price that covers its costs. Money from those sales would go back into the Mint's own fund.
Congressional Summary
Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill awards posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Henrietta Lacks, in recognition of the contributions of her immortal cells to global health, scientific research, quality of life, and patients' rights.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-05-19
- Date Added
- 2026-10-17
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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