[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE WORDS MATTER FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS 
                                  ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2025

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Words Matter for the 
District of Columbia Courts Act, which would remove the term 
``retarded'' from Title 11 of the District of Columbia Code and replace 
it with more appropriate and respectful terms. Last Congress, the 
Senate passed this bill by unanimous consent. Senators Jerry Moran and 
Gary Peters are introducing the companion bill.
  Removing the term from the law has bipartisan support. In 2010, 
Congress removed several instances of the term from federal law by 
passing Rosa's Law (P.L. 111-256). Last Congress, I joined Republican 
and Democratic colleagues in introducing the Words Matter Act, which 
would remove several more instances of the term from federal law.
  The term is used three times in Title 11 of the D.C. Code, and, under 
the D.C. Home Rule Act, only Congress can amend Title 11 of the D.C. 
Code.
  There was a time when the term was a clinical term, but in more 
recent years, it has become a slur used against people with 
intellectual disabilities. Words indisputably matter, and I know our 
country is better than keeping such language in our law.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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