House Bill
H.R. 3498
Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act
Primary Sponsor
Cynthia M. Lummis
Senator
Cosponsors
34
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Summary
This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her contributions to biomedical research. Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became the first immortal human cell line known as HeLa cells. These cells have been fundamental to countless medical breakthroughs including polio vaccine development, cancer research, and COVID-19 vaccines. The medal honors her unwitting but immeasurable contribution to science.
Latest Action
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. McGarvey asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 3498, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins (NY), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
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Vote Prediction
Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act
This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her contributions to biomedical research. Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became the first immortal human
Community Breakdown
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This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her contributions to biomedical research. Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became the first immortal human cell line known as HeLa cells. These cells have been fundamental to countless medical breakthroughs including polio vaccine development, cancer research, and COVID-19 vaccines. The medal honors her unwitting but immeasurable contribution to science.
- Bill Number
- 3498
- Sponsor
- Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY)
- Introduced
- 5/19/2025
- Status
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administr
- Policy Area
- Social Welfare
Data from Congress.gov
Fact Sheet
- Title
- Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act
- Bill Number
- 3498
- Sponsor
- Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY)
- Status
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administr
- Introduced
- 5/19/2025
- Summary
- This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her contributions to biomedical research. Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became the first immortal human cell line known as HeLa cells. These ce
Data from Congress.gov
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