Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act

Senate Bill

S. 1893

119th Congress

Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act

In Committee

Introduced:May 22, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Bob Casey

D - PA

Cosponsors

21

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary

The Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in medical research without her knowledge or consent. The bill aims to honor Lacks' contribution to scientific advancement and bring awareness to the ethical issues surrounding the use of her cells.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Introduced5/22/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

See this page through your district lens

Enter ZIP to personalize representatives and vote context.

Stay on top of this issue

Subscribe for weekly bill and representative updates.

Vote Prediction

Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act

The Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in medical research without her knowledge or consent. The bill aims to honor Lacks' contribution to scientific advancement and bri

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

The Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in medical research without her knowledge or consent. The bill aims to honor Lacks' contribution to scientific advancement and bring awareness to the ethical issues surrounding the use of her cells.

Bill Number: 1893
Introduced: 5/22/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Policy Area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act
Bill Number: 1893
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Introduced: 5/22/2025
Summary: The Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in medical research without her knowledge or consent. The bill aims to honor Lacks' contribution to scientific advancement and bring awareness to the ethical issues surro

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in medical research without her knowledge or consent. The bill aims to honor Lacks' contribution to scientific advancement and bring awareness to the ethical issues surrounding the use of her cells.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2023This bill establishes the Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence.Among other things, the advisory council must assess the needs of victims of gun violence and disseminate information about helpful resources.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

The bill would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in medical research without her knowledge or consent.
It seeks to recognize Lacks' contribution to scientific progress and bring attention to the ethical concerns around the use of her cells.
The bill would highlight the importance of informed consent and the fair treatment of individuals, especially marginalized communities, in medical research.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If passed, this bill would honor Henrietta Lacks and her family, who have long advocated for recognition of her contribution to medical research. It would also raise awareness about the ethical issues surrounding the use of human samples in research, particularly the need for informed consent and fair treatment of all individuals, regardless of their background.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1893, 119th Congress (2025). "Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-1893

Public Opinions

Community submissions related to this bill.

Share your opinion

No public opinions yet. Be the first to submit one for this bill.

Related Bills in Crime and Law Enforcement

HR 2978

GUARD Act

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services,

HR 909

Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025

Motion to place bill on Consensus Calendar filed by Mrs. Wagner.

S 1466

Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HR 2796

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, an