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119-hr-3420119th Congress

Words Matter Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

In Committee

Summary

Modernize federal language by replacing "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability".

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  • Families and individuals: Federal program descriptions, eligibility wording, and benefit materials in areas like school lunch, housing, Medicaid, and long-term care would use updated, respectful terminology instead of outdated, stigmatizing words.
  • Justice system: Death-penalty rules, mental health court definitions, and criminal-justice grant provisions would be revised to refer to "intellectual disability" rather than older terms, changing legal language and case descriptions.
  • Federal agencies and regulations: Agencies would be instructed to treat older references as referring to intellectual disability and to clearly note the historical terminology change. The bill includes a rule saying these wording updates are not meant to change coverage, eligibility, rights, or responsibilities.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 6/5/2025

  • Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 6/9/2025

  • Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 8/15/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/17/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/23/2026

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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