119-hr3420

[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)
        (A) ) is amended by 
striking ``mental retardation'' and inserting ``intellectual 
disability''.

    (e) General Programs 

=== Definitions. ===
-

Section 701 of the Indian Health 
Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1665) is amended by striking ``mental 
retardation'' and inserting ``intellectual disability'' each place it 
appears.

    (f) Grant Authority.--

Section 2201 of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10471) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) by striking ``mental retardation'' and 
 inserting ``intellectual disabilities''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) by striking ``a mentally 
 ill or mentally retarded offender'' and inserting ``an 
 offender who has a mental illness or intellectual 
 disability''; and
        (B) in subparagraph
            (C) by striking ``of a mentally 
 ill or mentally retarded defendant's cases'' and 
 inserting ``cases of a defendant who has a mental 
 illness or intellectual disability''.

    (g) Mental Health Courts 

=== Definitions. ===
-

Section 2202

    (2) of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10472

    (2) ) 
is amended by striking ``mental retardation'' and inserting 
``intellectual disability'' each place it appears.

    (h) Donation of Personal Property Through State Agencies.--

Section 549
            (c) (3)
        (B)
            (iv) of title 40, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``the mentally retarded or physically handicapped'' and 
inserting ``individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities''.
            (i) Training Opportunities for Direct Care Workers.--

Section 747A

    (a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293k-1

    (a) ) is 
amended by striking ``mental retardation'' and inserting ``intellectual 
disabilities''.

    (j) Criminal Penalties for Acts Involving Federal Health Care 
Programs.--

Section 1128B of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-
7b) is amended by striking ``the mentally retarded'' and inserting 
``individuals with intellectual disabilities'' each place it appears.

    (k) Long-Term Care Facility or Provider.--

Section 6201

    (a)

    (6)
        (E)
            (ix) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-
7l

    (a)

    (6)
        (E)
            (ix) ) is amended by striking ``the mentally retarded'' and 
inserting ``individuals with intellectual disabilities''.
            (l) Grants for Planning Comprehensive Action To Respond to the 
Needs of Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities.--Title XVII of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1391 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in the title heading by striking ``COMBAT MENTAL 
 RETARDATION'' and inserting ``MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS 
 WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES'';

    (2) in 

section 1701, by striking ``combat mental 
 retardation'' and inserting ``meet the needs of individuals 
 with intellectual disabilities'' each place it appears;

    (3) in 

section 1702--
        (A) by striking ``needed to combat mental 
 retardation'' and inserting ``needed to meet the needs 
 of individuals with intellectual disabilities'';
        (B) by striking ``the mental retardation problem 
 and of the need for combating it'' and inserting ``such 
 needs'';
            (C) by striking ``relating to the various aspects 
 of mental retardation and its prevention, treatment, or 
 amelioration'' and inserting ``to meet such needs''; 
 and
            (D) by striking ``community action to combat mental 
 retardation'' and inserting ``community action to meet 
 such needs''; and

    (4) in 

section 1703 by striking ``the mentally retarded'' 
 and inserting ``individuals with intellectual disabilities''.
            (m) Requirements for, and Assuring Quality Care in, Skilled Nursing 
Facilities.--

Section 1819

    (b)

    (4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395i-3

    (b)

    (4) ) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (vii) by striking ``mentally ill and 
 mentally retarded residents'' and inserting ``residents with 
 mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities''; and

    (2) in subparagraph
            (C) 
            (ii) 
            (IV) by striking ``the mentally 
 ill and the mentally retarded'' and inserting ``individuals 
 with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities''.

    (n) Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs.--Title XIX of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``intermediate care facility for the 
 mentally retarded'' and inserting ``intermediate care facility 
 for individuals with intellectual disabilities'' each place it 
 appears;

    (2) by striking ``intermediate care facilities for the 
 mentally retarded'' and inserting ``intermediate care 
 facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities'' 
 each place it appears;

    (3) in 

section 1905
            (d) --
        (A) in the matter preceding paragraph

    (1) by 
 striking ``the mentally retarded or persons with'' and 
 inserting ``individuals with intellectual disabilities 
 or'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (1) by striking ``mentally 
 retarded individuals'' and inserting ``individuals with 
 intellectual disabilities''; and
            (C) in paragraph

    (2) by striking ``mentally 
 retarded individual'' and inserting ``individual who 
 has an intellectual disability'';

    (4) in the section heading of 

section 1910 by striking 
 ``the mentally retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with 
 intellectual disabilities'';

    (5) in 

section 1915
            (c) (7)
            (C) by striking ``mental 
 retardation or a related condition'' and inserting 
 ``intellectual disabilities or related conditions'';

    (6) in 

section 1919--
        (A) in subsection

    (b)

    (3) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (E) --
            (I) by striking ``mental 
 retardation'' and inserting 
 ``intellectual''; and
            (II) by striking ``is mentally ill 
 or mentally retarded'' and inserting 
 ``has a mental illness or intellectual 
 disability''; and
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (F) --
            (I) in the subparagraph heading by 
 striking ``mentally ill and mentally 
 retarded individuals'' and inserting 
 ``individuals who have mental illnesses 
 or intellectual disabilities'';
            (II) by striking ``State mental 
 retardation'' and inserting ``State 
 intellectual'' each place it appears;
            (III) in clause
            (i) by striking 
 ``is mentally ill'' and inserting ``has 
 a mental illness''; and
            (IV) in clause
            (ii) --

    (aa) by striking ``is 
 mentally retarded'' and 
 inserting ``has an intellectual 
 disability''; and

    (bb) by striking ``for 
 mental retardation'' and 
 inserting ``for such 
 intellectual disability'';
        (B) in subsection

    (b)

    (4) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (vii) by striking 
 ``mentally ill and mentally retarded 
 residents'' and inserting ``residents with 
 mental illnesses or intellectual 
 disabilities''; and
            (ii) in subparagraph
            (C) 
            (ii) 
            (IV) by 
 striking ``the mentally ill and the mentally 
 retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with 
 mental illnesses or intellectual 
 disabilities''; and
            (C) in subsection

    (e)

    (7) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (i) by striking 
 ``mentally ill and mentally retarded 
 individuals'' and inserting ``individuals with 
 mental illnesses or intellectual 
 disabilities'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) --
            (I) by striking ``State mental 
 retardation'' and inserting ``State 
 intellectual'' each place it appears;
            (II) in clause
            (ii) --

    (aa) in the clause heading 
 by striking ``mentally retarded 
 residents'' and inserting 
 ``residents with intellectual 
 disabilities'';

    (bb) in the matter 
 preceding clause
            (I) by 
 striking ``is mentally 
 retarded'' and inserting ``has 
 an intellectual disability''; 
 and
            (cc) in subclause
            (II) by 
 striking ``mental retardation'' 
 and inserting ``an intellectual 
 disability''; and
            (III) in clause
            (iii) by striking 
 ``mentally ill or mentally retarded 
 resident'' and inserting ``resident who 
 has a mental illness or intellectual 
 disability'';
            (iii) in subparagraph
            (C) by striking 
 ``mental retardation'' and inserting 
 ``intellectual disability'' in each place it 
 appears;
            (iv) in subparagraph
        (E) --
            (I) by striking ``are mentally 
 retarded or mentally ill'' and 
 inserting ``have an intellectual 
 disability or mental illness''; and
            (II) by striking ``mental 
 retardation'' and inserting 
 ``intellectual disability''; and
            (v) in subparagraph
        (G) --
            (I) in clause
            (i) by inserting ``or 
 have a `mental illness''' after 
 ```mentally ill'''; and
            (II) in clause
            (ii) by striking 
 ``be `mentally retarded' if the 
 individual is mentally retarded or a 
 person with'' and inserting ``have an 
 `intellectual disability' if the 
 individual has an intellectual 
 disability or''; and

    (7) in the section heading of 

section 1922 by striking 
 ``the mentally retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with 
 intellectual disabilities''.

    (o) Payments to States.--

Section 2002

    (a)

    (2)
        (A) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397a

    (a)

    (2)
        (A) ) is amended by striking ``the 
mentally retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with intellectual 
disabilities''.

    (p) Miscellaneous Provisions.--

Section 12
            (d) (5) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760
            (d) (5) ) is amended by 
striking ``the mentally retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with 
intellectual disabilities''.

    (q) Child Nutrition 

=== Definitions. ===
-

Section 15

    (3) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1784

    (3) ) is amended by striking ``the 
mentally retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with intellectual 
disabilities''.

    (r) Institutionalized Persons 

=== Definitions. ===
-

Section 2

    (1)
        (B) of the 
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (42 U.S.C. 1997

    (1)
        (B) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in clause
            (i) by striking ``disabled, or retarded, or 
 chronically ill or handicapped'' and inserting ``physically or 
 intellectually disabled, or chronically ill''; and

    (2) in clause
            (iv) 
            (III) by striking ``mentally ill or 
 disabled, mentally retarded, or chronically ill or 
 handicapped'' and inserting ``mentally ill, physically or 
 intellectually disabled, or chronically ill''.

    (s) Programs for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities.--
Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights 
Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``Intermediate Care Facility (Mental 
 Retardation)'' and inserting ``intermediate care facility for 
 individuals with intellectual disabilities'' each place it 
 appears;

    (2) in 

section 109

    (a)

    (4)
        (B)
            (i) by striking ``the mentally 
 retarded'' and inserting ``individuals with intellectual 
 disabilities''; and

    (3) in 

section 125
            (c) (7)
        (F)
            (i) by striking ``Intermediate 
 Care Facilities (Mental Retardation)'' and inserting 
 ``intermediate care facilities for individuals with 
 intellectual disabilities''.

SEC. 3. REGULATIONS.

 For the purposes of a regulation issued to carry out a provision 
amended by this Act--

    (1) before the regulation is amended to carry out this 
 Act--
        (A) a reference in the regulation to ``mental 
 retardation'' shall be considered to be a reference to 
 ``an intellectual disability''; and
        (B) a reference in the regulation to ``the mentally 
 retarded'', or ``individuals who are mentally 
 retarded'', shall be considered to be a reference to 
 ``individuals with intellectual disabilities''; and

    (2) in amending a regulation to carry out this Act, a 
 Federal agency shall ensure that the regulation clearly 
 states--
        (A) that ``an intellectual disability'' was 
 formerly termed ``mental retardation''; and
        (B) that ``individuals with intellectual 
 disabilities'' were formerly termed ``the mentally 
 retarded'' or ``individuals who are mentally 
 retarded''.

SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

 This Act shall be construed to amend Federal law to remove the term 
``mentally retarded'' and ``mental retardation'' without any intent 
to--

    (1) change the coverage, eligibility, rights, 
 responsibilities, or definitions referred to in the amended 
 provisions; or

    (2) compel States to change terminology in State laws for 
 individuals covered by a provision amended by this Act.
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