A bipartisan bill cosponsored on Feb. 1 by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) would update the District of Columbia Code to replace the words “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation” with more dignified language.
“Individuals with disabilities deserve to be respected and valued,” Sen. Moran said. “Language that is degrading to individuals with disabilities should be eliminated from our laws and courts.”
The Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act, S. 3726, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), would require use of the phrase “persons of moderate intellectual disabilities,” according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Sens. Moran and Casey, who are co-chairs of the Congressional Down Syndrome Task Force, noted that Congress in 2010 passed Rosa’s Law, which eliminated “mental retardation” from federal law. However, Title 11 of the D.C. Code still uses various forms of those words and under the D.C. Home Rule Act, only Congress is authorized to amend Title 11 of the code.
“This legislation makes certain the D.C. courts are using language that is both accurate and appropriate and maintains the dignity of all people,” said Sen. Moran.
S. 3726 is companion legislation to the Words Matter Act of 2023, H.R. 3111, introduced in May 2023 by U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) to remove outdated terminology in specified statutes by replacing references to mentally retarded and mental retardation with intellectual disability, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“As public officials, we have an obligation to uplift people with disabilities and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect,” said Sen. Casey. “I’m proud to join with Sen. Moran on this bipartisan bill to remove derogatory language from our laws and courts, and am committed to continuing to fight on behalf of Americans with disabilities.”
The measure is supported by the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, and Special Olympics.