Bill > S1893

This bill seeks to award a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her extraordinary scientific contribution through her unique cell line, known as HeLa cells. The bill highlights Lacks' background as an African-American woman from Virginia who, in 1951, was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital for cervical cancer, during which tumor cells were taken without her consent. These cells, which uniquely doubled every 20-24 hours unlike other human cells, became the first immortal human cell line and have been instrumental in numerous medical breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine, research on HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, and understanding genetic conditions. The bill notes that over 110,000 scientific publications have cited HeLa cells, and they have contributed to Nobel Prize-winning discoveries. The Congressional Gold Medal will be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury and, after the award ceremony, will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research purposes. The bill also authorizes the minting of bronze duplicates of the medal for sale to cover production costs. Beyond honoring Lacks' scientific legacy, the bill emphasizes her role in advancing bioethics and informed consent policies that now protect research participants' rights.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1893/all-info