Bill > S4031

This bill proposes to award a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose immortal cancer cells, known as HeLa cells, have made invaluable contributions to global health, scientific research, quality of life, and patients' rights. The bill provides details on Henrietta Lacks' life and the significance of her cells, which have been used in groundbreaking medical advancements but without her family's knowledge or consent for many years. The bill authorizes the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to present the gold medal to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available for display and research. Additionally, the bill allows the Treasury Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover the costs.