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H.Res. 1145 (117th): Recognizing Menstrual Hygiene Day.

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The text of the resolution below is as of May 27, 2022 (Introduced). The resolution was not adopted.

IV

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. RES. 1145

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 27, 2022

(for herself, Ms. Bass, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lieu, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Speier, Mr. Takano, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Trone, Ms. Velázquez, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Williams of Georgia, and Mr. Bowman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 committee concerned

RESOLUTION

Recognizing Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Whereas, since 2013, Menstrual Hygiene Day is annually commemorated on May 28 to raise awareness and catalyze political action around the challenges menstruators around the world face;

Whereas approximately half of the population will have a period every month for decades of their lives;

Whereas period supplies are a necessary product, each month, for people across the country and the world;

Whereas 16,900,000 individuals in the United States report lacking access to menstrual products;

Whereas national surveys and research studies report that 1 in 4 menstruators struggle to secure enough period products to meet their monthly needs due to lack of income;

Whereas this lack of period supplies, known as period poverty, can adversely affect people’s health and well-being;

Whereas 1 in 5 women and girls reports missing work or school as a result of period poverty;

Whereas period poverty exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty by forcing menstruators to withdraw from daily life, losing pay or missing educational opportunities;

Whereas people experiencing period poverty risk infections by using proxy products, such as socks or toilet paper, or not changing products as often as medically advised;

Whereas when students can easily access period products they are less likely to face disruptions to their education and better able to participate in educational activities;

Whereas States and communities across the United States are recognizing the importance of providing period products to students in order to support their educational and personal development; and

Whereas providing access to period products in schools and other public locations can lead to economic opportunity and improved health by ensuring all people have access to the basic necessities required to thrive and reach their full potential: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives—

(1)

recognizes the need to break the silence, raise awareness, and change negative social norms surrounding menstrual hygiene around the world;

(2)

recognizes the need for increased research on access to menstrual health management both in the United States and around the world;

(3)

recognizes the barriers that vulnerable populations face to access period products, including in schools, employment facilities, prisons, homeless shelters, after natural disasters, and in refugee camps;

(4)

recognizes the work of activists around the country working to combat period poverty;

(5)

urges the enactment of laws to comprehensively address the challenges of menstruators in the United States and around the world; and

(6)

encourages the people of the United States to observe Menstrual Hygiene Day.