Law that will strike "mental retardation" from many federal laws awaits President's signature

The House of Representatives unanimously approved Rosa's Law, a bill that changes the term "mentally retarded" to "an individual with an intellectual disability" in health, education and labor law. The bill passed the Senate last month and now goes to the President for his signature.

Many states and some federal agencies have already amended the use of the term and the passage of Rosa's Law will bring more federal agencies in line with this change. Services, rights, responsibilities and educational opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities will not be affected by the passage of Rosa's Law.

Rosa's Law was originally introduced by U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md). It is named for Rosa Marcellino, a Maryland girl with Down syndrome. Rosa's family successfully advocated for the change to "intellectual disability" in Maryland state law.

Read Senator Mikulski's press release: Mikulski, Enzi Applaud Passage of Rosa's Law: Bill strikes "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" from federal education, health and labor laws