Words Matter Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Sessions
In Committee
Summary
Replace outdated federal uses of 'mental retardation' with 'intellectual disability' across federal law. The bill would update language across statutes governing health, benefits, housing, education, and criminal law while preserving existing policy intent and coverage.
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- People served by federal programs: Statutory language in laws for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, housing, school lunch, child nutrition, and Indian Health would use "intellectual disability".
- Criminal justice and sentencing: Federal criminal provisions, including a death-penalty related clause in Title 18 and language in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, would replace "mentally retarded" with "intellectual disability".
- Federal agencies and providers: Agencies would revise statutes, program texts, cross-references, and facility names such as the former "Intermediate Care Facility (Mental Retardation)" to match the updated terminology.
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sessions
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
Hudson
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
Babin
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
Van Duyne
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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