# 119-hr-1022: Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act

119-hr-1022, Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC); status introduced (as of 2026-08-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1022
- As of: 2026-08-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1022
- Congress: 119
- Title: Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-05
- Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-15

## Summary

**Replaces outdated, offensive terminology with modern, person-first language in D.C. court law.** This bill would amend three sections of Title 11 of the District of Columbia Official Code to replace phrases like "substantially retarded" and "at least moderately mentally retarded" with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities." The change modernizes wording in United States District Court, Superior Court, and Family Court jurisdiction text and does not add programs or funding.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Respectful disability terms in D.C. courts: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would update how D.C. court laws refer to people with disabilities. It would replace old phrases like "substantially retarded persons" with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities." The change would apply in Family Court, Superior Court, and U.S. District Court in D.C…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-10421: Transforming Education for the Future Act
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-1022 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1022)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-10421: Transforming Education for the Future Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10421)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1022 (as of 2026-08-15).