IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 351 Recognizing the impact the stigmatization of menstruation has on the lives of women, girls, and people who menstruate, and expressing support for the designation of the month of May as ‘‘National Menstrual Health Awareness Month’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 2, 2023 Ms. MENG (for herself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. EVANS, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, and Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ) submitted the following reso- lution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing the impact the stigmatization of menstruation has on the lives of women, girls, and people who men- struate, and expressing support for the designation of the month of May as ‘‘National Menstrual Health Aware- ness Month’’. Whereas menstrual health is an integral part of overall health because most women menstruate, on average, for 40 years of life between menarche and menopause; Whereas the World Bank estimates that globally, 500,000,000 people lack access to menstrual products VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 May 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR351.IH HR351 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 351 IH and clean, safe water and sanitation facilities for men- strual hygiene management; Whereas the United Nations Population Fund recognizes that menstruation is intrinsically related to human dignity; Whereas menstrual health impacts the fulfillment of rights such as adequate and secure housing, education, safe and healthy working conditions, and freedom from discrimina- tion; Whereas access to safe, private water and sanitation facilities is essential for effectively managing menstrual hygiene with dignity; Whereas cultural stigma and lack of access to menstrual health and hygiene education, sanitation, and infrastruc- ture can limit access to school, employment, and religious activities; Whereas negative stigmas around menstruation can impact girls from the onset of puberty and throughout the re- mainder of their lives; Whereas menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life for most women and girls, yet, in many societies, the experi- ence of menstruators continues to be constrained by cul- tural taboos and discriminatory social norms; Whereas the lack of resources for safe and dignified manage- ment of menstruation can cause discomfort and psycho- logical stress and add to the shame and sometimes de- pression that women and girls experience as a result of menstruation-related taboos and stigma; Whereas women’s health research continues to be under- studied, resulting in a lack of research and education around menstrual and uterine health issues such as VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 May 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR351.IH HR351 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HRES 351 IH fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome, impacting millions of women in the United States; Whereas an investment in menstrual health is an investment in gender equity and equality; and Whereas menstrual health disparities impact economic oppor- tunities and empowerment: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 2 Menstrual Health Awareness Month’’, which are 3 to— 4 (A) normalize menstruation as a healthy 5 biological process and eliminate period stigma; 6 (B) educate young people to understand 7 menstrual health management and its impacts 8 on the overall physical health, mental health, 9 and well-being of women, girls, and those who 10 menstruate; 11 (C) support the development of new sup- 12 portive standards of menstrual health education 13 and care for menstruating girls, women, and 14 people; and 15 (D) improve access to care, treatment, and 16 information regarding menstrual health, includ- 17 ing for conditions such as dysmenorrhea, 18 fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary 19 syndrome; 20 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 May 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR351.IH HR351 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HRES 351 IH (2) acknowledges the importance of ensuring 1 access to appropriate menstrual products and safe, 2 private sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools 3 and workplaces in the United States and abroad; 4 (3) recognizes the importance of promoting 5 health equity and addressing the burden negative 6 stigmas around menstruation have on women, girls, 7 and those who menstruate; 8 (4) recognizes the importance of expanding clin- 9 ical research and health education on conditions im- 10 pacting menstrual health such as fibroids, endo- 11 metriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome; and 12 (5) supports the designation of a ‘‘National 13 Menstrual Health Awareness Month’’. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:40 May 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR351.IH HR351 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB