Judiciary committee clears 'Words Matter' bill to replace outdated statutory language
Committee adopted and reported HR 3420 to replace outdated terminology (e.g., 'mental retardation') with 'intellectual disability' across federal statutes; sponsors from both parties described the change as bipartisan and non-substantive.
The full story
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and voted to report HR 3420, the Words Matter Act, which would update federal statutory language to replace derogatory terminology with the term "intellectual disability." Chair and ranking member framed the bill as completing the work begun by Rose's Law and stressed that the changes do not alter substantive rights or obligations.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.