Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1893
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-04T23:44:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 1893) aims to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells (known as HeLa cells) have revolutionized medical research, global health advancements, and patient rights. The medal recognizes the invaluable, ongoing contributions of her immortal cells to science, medicine, and bioethics without her or her family's initial knowledge or consent.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines Henrietta Lacks' life story, including her birth in 1920, move to Baltimore in 1941, 1951 cancer diagnosis and treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital (where cells were taken without consent), her death at age 31, and the historic role of HeLa cells as the first immortal human cell line. It highlights their use in breakthroughs like the polio vaccine, treatments for cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases, as well as in research on radiation, space travel, genetics, and precision medicine. The findings also note HeLa cells' commercialization, over 110,000 scientific publications citing them (1953–2018), Nobel Prize connections, and Lacks' influence on modern informed consent laws and bioethics.
- Award Authorization: The Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate will arrange a ceremony to present the gold medal to Lacks' family or representatives on behalf of Congress.
- Medal Design and Production: The Secretary of the Treasury will design and strike the gold medal with appropriate symbols. After presentation, it will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research purposes. Congress encourages display at sites linked to Lacks' life, such as in Virginia or Maryland.
- Duplicate Medals: Bronze replicas can be produced and sold by the Secretary at cost to cover production expenses (labor, materials, etc.).
- Legal Status and Funding: The medals are classified as national medals under U.S. law (chapter 51 of title 31, U.S. Code) and numismatic items (section 5134 of title 31, U.S. Code). Costs are funded from the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund, with sales proceeds returned to the fund.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces no direct amendments to existing laws. It authorizes a new, one-time honorary award under the framework of Congressional Gold Medals (a tradition since 1776 for recognizing extraordinary contributions). It builds on precedents for posthumous awards but adds specific recognition of bioethics and patient rights tied to Lacks' story, without altering consent laws or research regulations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Mint will handle production and sales, using existing funds with no additional taxpayer burden. The Smithsonian will manage display, potentially increasing public education on medical history.
- On Citizens: Promotes awareness of Henrietta Lacks' legacy, emphasizing ethical issues in medical research and informed consent (the process where patients must knowingly agree to procedures). This could build trust in healthcare, especially among underserved communities like African Americans, who faced historical medical injustices.
- On International Relations: HeLa cells' global use in research (e.g., vaccines, gene mapping) underscores U.S. contributions to worldwide health; the award may enhance America's image in bioethics and scientific collaboration, with no direct diplomatic effects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Henrietta Lacks' Family: Direct recipients of the honor, gaining formal recognition after decades without knowledge of or compensation from HeLa cells' use.
- Scientific and Medical Communities: Researchers, institutions like Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who benefit from HeLa cells and may use the award to highlight ethical research practices.
- African-American and Underserved Communities: Symbolizes acknowledgment of past racial inequities in medicine, fostering dialogue on patient rights.
- Bioethics Advocates and Educators: Supports ongoing efforts to strengthen informed consent policies.
- Cultural Institutions: Smithsonian and related museums, which will display the medal to educate the public.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the Congressional Gold Medal as a non-monetary honor (no financial compensation to the family), aligning with U.S. traditions of symbolic recognition. It avoids litigation risks by focusing on legacy rather than retroactive claims on cell commercialization.
- Constitutional: No issues; Congress has broad authority under Article I to award medals and commend individuals, as this is a ceremonial act without spending or regulatory power implications.
- Political: Bipartisan potential in honoring a figure central to civil rights and science; introduced by Sens. Van Hollen and Alsobrooks (both Democrats), it could highlight themes of racial justice in healthcare. Passage would affirm Congress's role in addressing historical oversights, potentially influencing future bioethics legislation without partisan controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2025-05-22: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act — issued 2025-05-22 — PDF (6 pages)