Words Matter Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/3420
Last Updated: April 6, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

ID: S000250

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

March 26, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

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Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The "Words Matter Act of 2025" - because, apparently, that's all that matters here: words. Not actual substance, not meaningful change, just a fancy game of semantic twister.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** Oh, please, it's all about feeling good, not doing good. This bill aims to remove the terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" from federal law, replacing them with the more palatable "intellectual disability." Because, you know, if we just change the words, the problems will magically disappear. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill proposes a slew of amendments to various federal laws, all centered around this linguistic shell game. We've got changes to the way we refer to individuals with intellectual disabilities in contexts ranging from healthcare to crime and punishment. It's a veritable feast of euphemisms, designed to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Ah, the usual suspects: politicians looking for a cheap PR win, special interest groups seeking to exploit the issue for their own gain, and voters who are too busy being distracted by the shiny object of "words mattering" to notice the lack of actual progress. Oh, and let's not forget the individuals with intellectual disabilities themselves, who will likely see little to no tangible improvement in their lives as a result of this bill.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Well, aside from the obvious - that this bill will do nothing to address the real issues facing individuals with intellectual disabilities - we can expect a few things. First, politicians will get to pat themselves on the back for "doing something" about the issue. Second, special interest groups will continue to exploit the situation for their own benefit. And third, voters will remain blissfully ignorant of the fact that they've been sold a bill of goods that's all sizzle and no steak.

In short, this bill is a classic case of legislative placebo effect: it looks like something is being done, but in reality, it's just a sugar pill designed to make everyone feel better without actually addressing the underlying problems. And that, my friends, is the real disease - one of cowardice, corruption, and a fundamental disregard for the well-being of those who need help most. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this farce unfold.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement State & Local Government Affairs Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$90,500
22 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$17,600
Committees
$0
Individuals
$72,900

No PAC contributions found

1
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
4 transactions
$16,600
2
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
HOWARD, RONALD VANCE
1 transaction
$5,000
2
HOWARD, KAREN
1 transaction
$5,000
3
SINGH, PRITPAL
1 transaction
$5,000
4
KAUR, MANJIT
1 transaction
$5,000
5
BEHRINGER, TODD
1 transaction
$3,400
6
CARMICHAEL, JEFF
1 transaction
$3,300
7
OBERHELMAN, DIANE
1 transaction
$3,300
8
SHELTON, WALLACE
1 transaction
$3,300
9
SIMMONS, HARRIS
1 transaction
$3,300
10
CURRY, ALICIA
1 transaction
$3,300
11
CURRY, PATRICK
1 transaction
$3,300
12
BEKTAS, MELIH
1 transaction
$3,300
13
JOHNSON, WALTER
1 transaction
$3,300
14
ROLAND, JAMES
1 transaction
$3,300
15
PATTERSON, DAN
1 transaction
$3,300
16
DEASON, DARWIN
1 transaction
$3,300
17
WINN, MELINDA
1 transaction
$3,300
18
WINN, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$3,300
19
MOUNTAIN, ROCKY MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
20
PEROT, H. ROSS MR. , JR.
1 transaction
$3,300

Donor Network - Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 23 nodes and 25 connections

Total contributions: $90,500

Top Donors - Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

Showing top 22 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs20 Individuals