Who it affects
- People with intellectual disabilities
In committeeDisability
Words Matter Act of 2025
H.R. 3420 · House bill · Introduced May 15, 2025
The Words Matter Act of 2025 would replace outdated terms in certain laws with “intellectual disability,” changing references to people with intellectual disabilities.
What stands out
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These are patterns in public records, not proof that money changed a vote. The same rules apply to every member. How we decide
At a glance
Where it stands
In committee
How South Carolina voted
No recorded votes yet.
See each vote ↓Lobbying and money
No lobbying reported yet
Lobbyists report every three months, about 20 days after each quarter ends. We have January 2025 through September 2026 reports. Newer reports will be added once filed and published.
What it would do
- The bill changes wording in certain laws.
- It removes the terms “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation.”
- It replaces both terms with “intellectual disability.”
Written with AI from the official summary by Congress's research office.
How South Carolina voted
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill yet.
Groups that lobbied on it and gave to SC's members
PAC, lobbyist campaign and qualifying employee money this election, shown separately and never added together. Lobbying reports name the bills a group worked on, not which side it took.
No lobbying reported yet. Lobbyists report every three months, about 20 days after each quarter ends. We have January 2025 through September 2026 reports. Newer reports will be added once filed and published.
Official record
Official title, sponsor and status
- Official title
- To amend Federal law to remove the terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation", and for other purposes.
- Sponsor
- Rep. Sessions, Pete (R-TX)
- Introduced
- May 15, 2025
- Cosponsors
- 15
- Committees
- House Judiciary Committee
- Latest action
- March 26, 2026 · Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Official summary from the Congressional Research Service
Words Matter Act of 2025 This bill removes outdated terminology in specified statutes by replacing references to mentally retarded and mental retardation with intellectual disability .
Summary on Congress.gov ↗Everyone who lobbied on this bill (0 groups)
No lobbying report we have loaded names this bill. That doesn't mean no lobbying took place.
Lobbyists report every three months, about 20 days after each quarter ends. We have January 2025 through September 2026 reports. Newer reports will be added once filed and published. Reports for October through December 2026 are due January 20, 2027.