[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          WORDS MATTER FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 498, S. 3698.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3698) to amend title 11, District of Columbia 
     Official Code, to revise references in such title to 
     individuals with intellectual disabilities.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which was reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3698) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                S. 3698

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Words Matter for the 
     District of Columbia Courts Act''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL 
                   DISABILITIES.

       (a) Jurisdiction of United States District Court.--Section 
     11-501(2)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended 
     by striking ``substantially retarded persons'' and inserting 
     ``persons with moderate intellectual disabilities''.
       (b) Jurisdiction of Superior Court.--Section 11-
     921(a)(4)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended 
     by striking ``substantially retarded persons'' and inserting 
     ``persons with moderate intellectual disabilities''.
       (c) Jurisdiction of Family Court.--Section 11-1101(a)(15), 
     District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking 
     ``the at least moderately mentally retarded'' and inserting 
     ``persons with moderate intellectual disabilities''.

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