# The Words Matter Act of 2022

This bill is straightforward: it removes outdated and offensive language from federal laws and replaces it with more respectful terminology. Specifically, it removes the terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" from federal statutes and replaces them with "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities."

The changes apply across dozens of federal programs and laws that affect people with intellectual disabilities. This includes healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, military family benefits, housing assistance, criminal justice programs, child nutrition programs, and various other federal initiatives. For example, when federal law currently refers to "intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded," it will now say "intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities." The same applies to references in laws about nursing homes, disability services, and educational programs.

The practical impact for everyday people is minimal in terms of how programs actually work. The bill explicitly states that it doesn't change who qualifies for services, what benefits people receive, or their rights under these programs—it only changes the words used to describe them. Someone who currently receives services under these programs will continue to receive exactly the same services under the same eligibility rules. The bill also allows states to continue using their own terminology in state laws if they choose to do so.

This is essentially a modernization effort to align federal law with current medical and social understanding. The term "mental retardation" has been considered outdated and stigmatizing for years, and the medical and disability communities have moved toward using "intellectual disability" as the preferred terminology. By updating federal law, the bill removes language that many find offensive while keeping all the actual programs and protections exactly as they are.

Words Matter Act of 2022

Pocan, Mark

Words Matter Act of 2022 This bill removes outdated terminology in specified statutes by replacing references to mentally retarded and mental retardation with intellectual disability.