US Federal Senate Bill SR500

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/18/25
• Refer: 11/18/25

Caption

A resolution commemorating the centennial year of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Summary

S. Res. 500 is a simple commemorative Senate resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The resolution describes ASHA as the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for audiologists, speech-language pathologists, communication scientists, assistants, and students, and highlights its mission to advance science, improve education and professional practice, set standards, and advocate for accessible, quality care. The resolution also emphasizes ASHA’s role in promoting licensure standards across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and its support for laws affecting disability rights, hearing and speech services, early hearing detection, and education for individuals with disabilities. It notes the prevalence of communication disorders, the stigma faced by people with those conditions, and the importance of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in raising awareness. The operative language simply has the Senate recognize ASHA for its century of service and commemorate its centennial year.

Impact

This resolution does not change federal or state law, create new programs, or authorize funding. Its practical effect is symbolic: it formally honors ASHA and draws attention to speech, language, and hearing disorders, the professionals who treat them, and the policy areas associated with access to care, licensure, disability rights, and education. Because it is a Senate resolution, its legal impact is limited to congressional recognition and messaging rather than statutory amendment.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly positive and celebratory. The resolution praises ASHA’s century of work, its advocacy for accessible care, and its contributions to professional standards and public awareness. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, and the bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggesting no documented controversy at this stage.

Contention

No specific points of contention are identified in the provided text or legislative history. Because the measure is commemorative and nonbinding, it is unlikely to generate substantive policy disputes. The only potentially broader policy themes referenced are disability access, licensure standards, and advocacy for communication-disorder services, but the resolution itself does not propose changes in those areas.