Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1966, and I thank the gentleman for yielding. I proudly co-led this bill when it was first introduced by our late friend, Elijah Cummings, in honor of the extraordinary life and legacy of a Baltimore native, Henrietta Lacks. Although Congressman Cummings has passed on and remains deeply missed, I am proud and grateful that Congressman Mfume has picked up the mantle on this important legislation. Without her knowledge or permission, doctors used Henrietta Lacks' cells for medical research that eventually led to some of medicine's most critical breakthroughs, including development of the polio vaccine, along with treatments for cancer, HIV/AIDS, leukemia, and Parkinson's. I can think of only a handful of Marylanders or even Americans who have contributed more to modern medicine than Henrietta Lacks. Her lifesaving contributions will continue to advance cures for debilitating diseases for generations to come. Yet more than 70 years after Henrietta Lacks' death, many communities still face glaring health disparities. For example, while cancer incidence rates are highest among non-Hispanic White females, non- Hispanic Black females have the highest rate of death.…”