Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 1022
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1022District of ColumbiaDisability and health-based discrimination
Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act
INTRO FEB 5· LAST ACTION FEB 5
READING
1MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
Voters should care about this bill because language has power, especially in legal contexts. Using respectful and accurate terminology in official government documents helps reduce stigma and promotes a more inclusive society for individuals with intellectual disabilities. If this bill becomes law, it signifies a move away from outdated and offensive language that can perpetuate negative stereotypes, aligning D.C.'s legal code with modern understanding and advocacy for people with disabilities. If it doesn't pass, the District of Columbia's official code will continue to use terms widely considered derogatory, potentially reinforcing past prejudices in a system meant to serve all its citizens fairly.
KEY PROVISIONS
3AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Replaces the term "substantially retarded persons" with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in the jurisdiction description for the United States District Court in D.C.
This updates the language in a federal court's description of its powers, ensuring respectful terminology.
PROVISION 02
Changes "substantially retarded persons" to "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in the jurisdiction description for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
This modernizes the language used by D.C.'s main local trial court.
PROVISION 03
Amends the phrase "the at least moderately mentally retarded" to "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" within the jurisdiction description for the Family Court of the District of Columbia.
This ensures sensitive and current language is used in matters concerning families and potentially vulnerable individuals.
Voters should care about this bill because language has power, especially in legal contexts. Using respectful and accurate terminology in official government documents helps reduce stigma and promotes a more inclusive society for individuals with intellectual disabilities. If this bill becomes law, it signifies a move away from outdated and offensive language that can perpetuate negative stereotypes, aligning D.C.'s legal code with modern understanding and advocacy for people with disabilities. If it doesn't pass, the District of Columbia's official code will continue to use terms widely considered derogatory, potentially reinforcing past prejudices in a system meant to serve all its citizens fairly.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Replaces the term "substantially retarded persons" with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in the jurisdiction description for the United States District Court in D.C.
This updates the language in a federal court's description of its powers, ensuring respectful terminology.
high
Changes "substantially retarded persons" to "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in the jurisdiction description for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
This modernizes the language used by D.C.'s main local trial court.
high
Amends the phrase "the at least moderately mentally retarded" to "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" within the jurisdiction description for the Family Court of the District of Columbia.
This ensures sensitive and current language is used in matters concerning families and potentially vulnerable individuals.
GLOSSARY
AI-written
District of Columbia Official Code
The collection of all laws and statutes that apply specifically to the District of Columbia.
Intellectual disabilities
A term used to describe significant limitations both in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and in adaptive behavior, which covers a range of everyday social and practical skills.
Jurisdiction
The official power of a court or other legal body to hear and decide cases or make legal judgments.
United States District Court
The trial court of the federal judicial system, in this context referring specifically to the one located in the District of Columbia.
Superior Court
The main local trial court for the District of Columbia, handling a wide variety of civil and criminal cases.
Family Court
A specialized division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia that handles cases related to family matters, such as child abuse, neglect, custody, and juvenile delinquency.
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTS
FEB 5, 25
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E99)
INTROREFERRAL
FEB 5, 25
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
FEB 5, 25
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
INTROREFERRAL
SPONSORS
1 SPONSOR · 1 COSPONSORS
Eleanor Norton
D· District of Columbia· 35 YRS IN OFFICE· 114 BILLS LED