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Words Matter Act: Replacing "Mental Retardation" with "Intellectual Disability"

This act updates federal law by replacing outdated terms like "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" and "individuals with intellectual disabilities." The goal is to use more respectful and current language, which can improve the perception and treatment of individuals with disabilities within society and the legal system.
Key points
Terminology Change: The act replaces outdated and stigmatizing terms with more appropriate ones across federal law.
No Change in Rights or Responsibilities: Importantly, this language change does not alter the scope of coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or definitions in the amended provisions.
Impact on Regulations: Federal agencies will need to update their regulations, clearly stating that "intellectual disability" was formerly termed "mental retardation."
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_8863
Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Process start date: 2022-09-15
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Words Matter Act of 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_8863.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2022-09-15.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Terminology Change: The act replaces outdated and stigmatizing terms with more appropriate ones across federal law.
  • No Change in Rights or Responsibilities: Importantly, this language change does not alter the scope of coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or definitions in the amended provisions.
  • Impact on Regulations: Federal agencies will need to update their regulations, clearly stating that "intellectual disability" was formerly termed "mental retardation."
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

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