Raising awareness regarding period poverty.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 987 Raising awareness regarding period poverty. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 28, 2020 Ms. MENG submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Raising awareness regarding period poverty. Whereas National Period Poverty Awareness Week is recog- nized on May 25 through May 31, 2020; Whereas, since 2013, Menstrual Hygiene Day is annually commemorated on May 28 to raise awareness and cata- lyze action around the challenges menstruation poses to individuals around the world; Whereas more than half of the United States population will likely menstruate every month for decades of their lives; Whereas menstrual products are a necessity each month for millions of people across the country; Whereas studies have shown that 1 in 4 women and girls re- ports that she struggles to afford menstrual products; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 May 29, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR987.IH HR987 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 987 IH Whereas this lack of menstrual products, often called ‘‘period poverty’’, can adversely affect a person’s health and well- being; Whereas studies have shown that 1 in 5 women and girls re- ports missing work or school due to a lack of access to menstrual products; Whereas period poverty exacerbates the vicious cycle of pov- erty by further marginalizing those who menstruate, causing them to withdraw from daily life, forego pay, or miss educational opportunities; Whereas period poverty can increase the risk of infections, because of the use of substitutes, such as paper towels or toilet paper, or because of an inability to change prod- ucts as frequently as recommended; Whereas period poverty existed long before the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has forced millions of peo- ple out of work, and thereby exacerbated the socio- economic and health challenges of individuals facing pe- riod poverty; Whereas menstrual products are essential to the health and economic well-being of individuals in both overcoming and recovering from the COVID–19 pandemic; and Whereas frontline health care workers in the fight against the COVID–19 pandemic have reported the challenges of working extended shifts in full-body protective gear while managing their periods, and that their overall menstrua- tion needs have been overlooked: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 May 29, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR987.IH HR987 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 987 IH (1) recognizes the contributions of individuals 1 and entities that operate or support period supply 2 banks and distribution programs in their local com- 3 munities, prior to and in response to the COVID– 4 19 pandemic; 5 (2) recognizes the generosity of the people of 6 the United States for supporting those struggling 7 with period poverty by donating menstrual products; 8 (3) recognizes the contributions of menstrual 9 equity advocates for advancing the menstrual equity 10 movement and policy; 11 (4) encourages the people of the United States 12 to observe National Period Poverty Awareness Week 13 and Menstrual Hygiene Day; 14 (5) calls on relevant Federal agencies, including 15 the Department of Health and Human Services and 16 the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to 17 work with State and local officials to collect data on 18 the menstruation needs of frontline health care 19 workers; and 20 (6) urges local, State, and Federal agencies to 21 ensure free access to menstrual products to individ- 22 uals in need during the COVID–19 response, includ- 23 ing for essential frontline workers, students, low-in- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 May 29, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR987.IH HR987 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 987 IH come families, individuals experiencing homelessness, 1 and incarcerated and detained individuals. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 May 29, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR987.IH HR987 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS