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Van Hollen, Mfume, Members of Maryland Congressional Delegation Introduce Bill to Award Henrietta Lacks the Congressional Gold Medal

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) introduced the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. This legislation would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her immortal "HeLa cells" which have made invaluable contributions to global health, scientific research, our quality of life, and patients’ rights. Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.

The bill receives support from members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, including Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.-06), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), and Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.-02). These lawmakers makeup 27 Members of the U.S. House who have signed on as original cosponsors. The legislation is also endorsed by HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Initiative and the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group (HLLG).

“Without knowing it at the time of her cancer treatment, Henrietta Lacks would go on to change the course of modern medicine. Her cells unlocked a breakthrough in medical research, leading to treatments and cures that are bettering people’s lives to this day. But Mrs. Lacks never consented to the use of her cells – nor did she receive rightful credit for the monumental contributions she made. That’s why it’s all the more important that we recognize her with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest expression of appreciation,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen.

“I am honored to introduce this legislation in the U.S. House to provide both the spirit of Mrs. Lacks and her descendants the gratitude and recognition this lineage deserves. Her ‘HeLa cells’ have altered the future of medical science, and the world continues to benefit from Mrs. Lacks’ contributions and sacrifice,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “During a time in our country where the Trump administration shamefully seeks to erase Black history from the American story, the legacies of Black historymakers like Mrs. Lacks must be uplifted, and we must continue to deliver our message back to President Trump: you erase it, we will replace it.”

“The Lacks Family is grateful to our friends Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Senator Chris Van Hollen for their leadership and continued commitment toward awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to my grandmother, Henrietta Lacks,” said Alfred Lacks Carter, Jr., grandson of Henrietta Lacks. “This Mother’s Day has even more meaning. I applaud the introduction of this Act in the spirit of my mother, Deborah Lacks, who worked tirelessly to ensure that her mother, Henrietta Lacks, was celebrated as the Mother of Modern Medicine.”

“Awarding Henrietta Lacks a Congressional Gold Medal as the world celebrates her 105th birthday this year is truly a fitting honor. Our Hennie’s contributions to science, medicine, and research have saved lives and created cures - here in the U.S. and worldwide. As my grandfather, Lawrence Lacks, Sr., Henrietta Lacks’ eldest son, often said, 'We are proud of all the good that she has done for the world.' As the next generation, we are reclaiming her story to make certain the world recognizes her impact,” said Veronica Robinson, Senior Advisor, HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Initiative, great granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group (HLLG), it is our pleasure to write this letter of support for your bill that would award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks in recognition of her immortal cells that have had a revolutionary effect on modern medicine and other scientific innovations," wrote Dr. Adele Newson-Horst, Chair, HLLG Board of Directors and Servant Courtney Speed, Founder and President, HLLG.  

In 1951, it was discovered that Mrs. Henrietta Lacks, of Baltimore, had a large, malignant tumor on her cervix. However, unbeknownst to Mrs. Lacks or her family, medical researchers took samples of her tumor during her treatment without her consent. Henrietta Lacks’ cells, now known as ‘‘HeLa cells,” doubled every 20 to 24 hours whereas other human cells died in the same time period.

Lacks’ prolific cells continue to replicate to this day and contribute to remarkable advances in medicine resulting in several Nobel Prize award-winning discoveries and groundbreaking advancements. These scientific discoveries include the development of the polio vaccine and drugs used to treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, hemophilia, leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease. Her cells were even sent into space to survey long-term effects on living cells and tissues.

The bill text for the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act is available by clicking here.

The Life of Henrietta Lacks

  • Henrietta Lacks was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1920 and later moved to Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and family of 5 children.
     
  • At the age of 31, she sought treatment from The Johns Hopkins Hospital for prolonged bleeding.
     
  • At the time, the hospital was one of a few that would treat African Americans. Shortly after her admission to the hospital, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cervical cancer that would lead to her untimely death only 8 months later.
     
  • This tragedy left Henrietta Lacks’ husband and 5 children to go on without her.
     
  • Despite Mrs. Lacks' passing, her life continued under unique circumstances. Researchers took cells from Henrietta Lacks without her consent or the consent of her relatives and discovered that they were unlike any other known cells before.
     
  • Mrs. Lacks’ cells, now referred to as, “HeLa cells," were remarkably durable and prolific, which allowed them to be used extensively in scientific research.
     
  • The cells had the unparalleled capacity to reproduce and were deemed immortal; meaning, where other human cells would die, "HeLa cells" doubled every 20 to 24 hours.
     
  • Henrietta Lacks’ immortal cells have been used by researchers, resulting in several Nobel Prize award-winning discoveries and groundbreaking advancements.
     
  • These scientific discoveries include the development of the polio vaccine and drugs used to treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, hemophilia, leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease. Her cells were even sent into space to survey long-term effects on living cells and tissues.
     
  • Henrietta Lacks’ story garnered the attention of the nation and was chronicled in a Primetime Emmy Award-nominated HBO film entitled, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”   
     
  • In October of 2024, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine broke ground on the Henrietta Lacks Building.
     
    • The new 34,000-square-foot building will be located on the East Baltimore campus and support multiple programs of the Berman Institute, Johns Hopkins University and the School of Medicine, and will house flexible program and classroom space for educational, research, and community use purposes.