H.R. 3420

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend Federal law to remove the terms and , and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · May 15, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Sessions · Committee: Committee on the Judiciary

H.R. 3420

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Words Matter Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Removal of and from Federal law

Removal of and 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 hasand 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 () is amended by striking the mentally retarded or developmentally disabledand inserting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 12 U.S.C. 1715w(d)(4)(A)
(c) Implementation of a sentence of death
- Section 3596(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking is mentally retardedand inserting has an intellectual disability.
(d) Fetal alcohol syndrome definition
- Section 4(9)(A) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act () is amended by striking mental retardationand inserting intellectual disability. 25 U.S.C. 1603(9)(A)
(e) General programs definitions
- Section 701 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act () is amended by striking mental retardationand inserting each place it appears. 25 U.S.C. 1665
(f) Grant authority
- Section 2201 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 () is amended— 34 U.S.C. 10471
  - in paragraph (1) by striking mental retardationand inserting intellectual disabilities; and
  - in paragraph (2)—
    - in subparagraph (A) by striking a mentally ill or mentally retarded offenderand inserting an offender who has a mental illness or intellectual disability; and
    - in subparagraph (C) by striking of a mentally ill or mentally retarded defendant’s casesand 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 () is amended by striking mental retardationand inserting each place it appears. 34 U.S.C. 10472(2)
(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 handicappedand inserting individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities.
(i) Training opportunities for direct care workers
- Section 747A(a) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by striking mental retardationand inserting intellectual disabilities. 42 U.S.C. 293k–1(a)
(j) Criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs
- Section 1128B of the Social Security Act () is amended by striking the mentally retardedand inserting each place it appears. 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b
(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 retardedand 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 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1391 et seq.
  - in the title heading by striking and inserting ;
  - in section 1701, by striking combat mental retardationand inserting each place it appears;
  - in section 1702—
    - by striking needed to combat mental retardationand inserting needed to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities;
    - by striking the mental retardation problem and of the need for combating itand inserting such needs;
    - by striking relating to the various aspects of mental retardation and its prevention, treatment, or ameliorationand inserting to meet such needs; and
    - by striking community action to combat mental retardationand inserting community action to meet such needs; and
  - in section 1703 by striking the mentally retardedand 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 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(b)(4)
  - in subparagraph (A)(vii) by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded residentsand inserting residents with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities; and
  - in subparagraph (C)(ii)(IV) by striking the mentally ill and the mentally retardedand inserting individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities.
(n) Grants to States for medical assistance programs
- Title XIX of the Social Security Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.
  - by striking intermediate care facility for the mentally retardedand inserting each place it appears;
  - by striking intermediate care facilities for the mentally retardedand inserting each place it appears;
  - in section 1905(d)—
    - in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking the mentally retarded or persons withand inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities or;
    - in paragraph (1) by striking mentally retarded individualsand inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities; and
    - in paragraph (2) by striking mentally retarded individualand inserting individual who has an intellectual disability;
  - in the section heading of section 1910 by striking and inserting ;
  - in section 1915(c)(7)(C) by striking mental retardation or a related conditionand inserting intellectual disabilities or related conditions;
  - in section 1919—
    - in subsection (b)(3)—
      - (i) in subparagraph (E)—
      - by striking mental retardationand inserting intellectual; and
      - by striking is mentally ill or mentally retardedand inserting has a mental illness or intellectual disability; and
      - (ii) in subparagraph (F)—
      - in the subparagraph heading by striking and inserting ;
      - by striking State mental retardationand inserting each place it appears;
      - in clause (i) by striking is mentally illand inserting has a mental illness; and
      - in clause (ii)—
      - by striking is mentally retardedand inserting has an intellectual disability; and
      - by striking for mental retardationand inserting for such intellectual disability;
    - in subsection (b)(4)—
      - (i) in subparagraph (A)(vii) by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded residentsand inserting residents with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities; and
      - (ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii)(IV) by striking the mentally ill and the mentally retardedand inserting individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities; and
    - in subsection (e)(7)—
      - (i) in subparagraph (A)(i) by striking mentally ill and mentally retarded individualsand inserting individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities;
      - (ii) in subparagraph (B)—
      - by striking State mental retardationand inserting each place it appears;
      - in clause (ii)—
      - in the clause heading by striking and inserting ;
      - in the matter preceding clause (I) by striking is mentally retardedand inserting has an intellectual disability; and
      - in subclause (II) by striking mental retardationand inserting an intellectual disability; and
      - in clause (iii) by striking mentally ill or mentally retarded residentand inserting resident who has a mental illness or intellectual disability;
      - (iii) in subparagraph (C) by striking mental retardationand inserting in each place it appears;
      - (iv) in subparagraph (E)—
      - by striking are mentally retarded or mentally illand inserting have an intellectual disability or mental illness; and
      - by striking mental retardationand inserting intellectual disability; and
      - (v) in subparagraph (G)—
      - in clause (i) by inserting after ; and
      - in clause (ii) by striking and inserting ; and
  - in the section heading of section 1922 by striking and inserting .
(o) Payments to States
- Section 2002(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act () is amended by striking the mentally retardedand inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities. 42 U.S.C. 1397a(a)(2)(A)
(p) Miscellaneous provisions
- Section 12(d)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act () is amended by striking the mentally retardedand inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities. 42 U.S.C. 1760(d)(5)
(q) Child nutrition definitions
- Section 15(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 () is amended by striking the mentally retardedand inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities. 42 U.S.C. 1784(3)
(r) Institutionalized persons definitions
- Section 2(1)(B) of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1997(1)(B)
  - in clause (i) by striking disabled, or retarded, or chronically ill or handicappedand inserting physically or intellectually disabled, or chronically ill; and
  - in clause (iv)(III) by striking mentally ill or disabled, mentally retarded, or chronically ill or handicappedand 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 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq.
  - by striking Intermediate Care Facility (Mental Retardation)and inserting each place it appears;
  - in section 109(a)(4)(B)(i) by striking the mentally retardedand inserting individuals with intellectual disabilities; and
  - 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—
- before the regulation is amended to carry out this Act—
  - a reference in the regulation to shall be considered to be a reference to ; and mental retardation an intellectual disability
  - a reference in the regulation to , or , shall be considered to be a reference to ; and the mentally retarded individuals who are mentally retarded individuals with intellectual disabilities
- in amending a regulation to carry out this Act, a Federal agency shall ensure that the regulation clearly states—
  - that was formerly termed ; and an intellectual disability mental retardation
  - that were formerly termed or . individuals with intellectual disabilities the mentally retarded individuals who are mentally retarded

SEC. 4. Rule of construction

This Act shall be construed to amend Federal law to remove the term and without any intent to— mentally retarded mental retardation
- change the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or definitions referred to in the amended provisions; or
- compel States to change terminology in State laws for individuals covered by a provision amended by this Act.

H.R. 3420

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title

SEC. 2. Removal of and from Federal law

SEC. 3. Regulations

SEC. 4. Rule of construction