--- title: HR 961. Bell, Sherilyn P.; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr961 cite_as: HR 961, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr961 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr961.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr961/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72090 date: 2025-04-04 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr960.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr962.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr961.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 961 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-04 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Imani Barnes - Karen Bennett - Carolyn Hugley - Inga Willis - Dar'shun Kendrick - Billy Mitchell text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR961/2025 upstream_id: 2021326 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - legislative commendation - healthcare advocacy - lymphedema treatment - public health --- # HR 961. Bell, Sherilyn P.; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3667 House Resolution 961 By: Representatives Barnes of the 86th, Bennett of the 94th, Hugley of the 141st, Willis of the 55th, Kendrick of the 95th, and others A RESOLUTION Commending Sherilyn P. Bell; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Sherilyn P. Bell is a highly respected healthcare prof essional whose career2 spans clinical research, laboratory management, and public heal th, including five years in3 stem cell clinical trials and extensive work in high-complexity testing; and4 WHEREAS, she has demonstrated excellence across multiple leadership roles in laboratory5 science, including as Laboratory Manager at Response Technologies Inc., Lead Viral Load6 Technologist at the Public Health Laboratory in Decatur, and Au ditor for Patient Service7 Centers at the Laboratory Corporation of America; and8 WHEREAS, she has also served as a tireless healthcare advocate both at the United States9 Capitol and in the State of Georgia through her work with the Lymphedema Advocacy Group10 and the Lighthouse Lymphedema Network, lobbying alongside the late Congressman John11 Lewis and other national advocates to push forward critical patient protections; and12 WHEREAS, through her leadership and persistence, she helped achieve the passage of the13 U.S. Lymphedema Treatment Act, first introduced in 2010 and pas sed by Congress on14 H. R. 961 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3667 December 23, 2022, after more than 12 years and seven congressional sessions, closing the15 coverage gap in Medicare for doctor-prescribed compression garments; and16 WHEREAS, her commitment to public service further includes volu nteer work with the17 American Red Cross, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta Day Shelter, and cancer18 support organizations, providing screenings, education, and sup port to underserved19 communities; and20 WHEREAS, she is a dedicated mother and grandmother as well as a proud member of the21 Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; and22 WHEREAS, Sherilyn P. Bell's career and advocacy reflect her ded ication to patient care,23 scientific excellence, and equitable healthcare access, earning her the admiration of24 colleagues and the gratitude of communities across Georgia and beyond; and25 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkab le individual be26 appropriately honored during this special time.27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that28 the members of this body commend Sherilyn P. Bell for her extra ordinary professional29 achievements and enduring contributions to healthcare and advocacy as well as extend best30 wishes for continued success.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to33 Sherilyn P. Bell.34 H. R. 961 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution formally commends Sherilyn P. Bell, a healthcare professional and patient advocate, for her career in laboratory science and her role in passing federal lymphedema treatment legislation. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It recognizes Sherilyn P. Bell for her career in clinical research, laboratory management, and public health, including work in stem cell clinical trials and viral load testing. It also credits her advocacy work, alongside the late Congressman John Lewis and others, in helping secure passage of the federal Lymphedema Treatment Act in December 2022, which closed a Medicare coverage gap for doctor-prescribed compression garments. The resolution also notes her volunteer work with groups like the American Red Cross and various Atlanta community organizations, and her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. It does not change any Georgia law. It simply states that the House commends Bell and directs the Clerk of the House to provide her with an official copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally commends Sherilyn P. Bell for her career in healthcare, laboratory science, and patient advocacy. - Recognizes her role in helping pass the federal Lymphedema Treatment Act, which closed a Medicare coverage gap for compression garments. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Bell. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulation; it is a purely ceremonial statement by the House. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors one individual, Sherilyn P. Bell. It has no regulatory or legal effect on other Georgians, healthcare providers, or state agencies. ### Why it matters Because this is a commendation rather than a law, it has no practical effect on healthcare policy, Medicare coverage, or Georgia regulations. Its significance is symbolic: it publicly records the House's recognition of one person's professional and advocacy work. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Bell's career in clinical research, laboratory management, and public health, including roles at Response Technologies Inc. and the Public Health Laboratory in Decatur. - The resolution credits her advocacy work with the Lymphedema Advocacy Group and Lighthouse Lymphedema Network in securing passage of the U.S. Lymphedema Treatment Act on December 23, 2022. - The resolved clause states the House commends Bell for her professional achievements and wishes her continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Bell. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-04) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Imani Barnes, Karen Bennett, Carolyn Hugley, Inga Willis, Dar'shun Kendrick, Billy Mitchell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72090 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr961.md?full=1