Words Matter Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3420 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3420 To amend Federal law to remove the terms ``mentally retarded'' and ``mental retardation'', and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 15, 2025 Mr. Sessions (for himself, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Norton, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. Zinke) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend Federal law to remove the terms ``mentally retarded'' and ``mental retardation'', and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Words Matter Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF ``MENTALLY RETARDED'' AND ``MENTAL RETARDATION'' FROM FEDERAL LAW. (a) Contracts for Medical Care for Spouses and Children.--Section 1079(d)(3)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``is moderately or severely mentally retarded, has a serious physical disability, or has'' and inserting ``has a moderate to severe intellectual disability, a serious physical disability, or''. (b) Mortgage Insurance for Nursing Homes, Intermediate Care Facilities, and Board and Care Homes.--Section 232(d)(4)(A) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715w(d)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ``the mentally retarded or developmentally disabled'' and inserting ``individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities''. (c) Implementation of a Sentence of Death.--Section 3596(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``is mentally retarded'' and inserting ``has an intellectual disability''. (d) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Definition.--Section 4(9)(A) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603(9)(