Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill would honor Henrietta Lacks with a Congressional Gold Medal for the impact of her “HeLa” cells on medicine and science. Her cells were taken during cancer treatment in 1951 without her consent, but they became the first immortal human cell line and helped create vaccines, cancer drugs, and many other breakthroughs. The medal recognizes her life, her role in major medical advances, and how her story shaped patient rights and informed consent policies .

After the medal is awarded, it would go to the Smithsonian for public display and research access, with the hope it can also be shown at places tied to her life. The Treasury would design and strike the medal. Bronze copies could be sold to cover costs, and the U.S. Mint’s fund would handle expenses and sales proceeds. The medals are treated as national medals and numismatic items under federal law .

• Who is honored: Henrietta Lacks, whose HeLa cells led to key medical advances like the polio vaccine and treatments for cancer and other diseases
• What changes: A national medal is created and displayed; bronze duplicates may be sold to fund costs through the U.S. Mint’s public enterprise fund
• Where it goes: The Smithsonian Institution, with encouragement to display it at other relevant locations