,,iv  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,h4 ,,res4 #ihg  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of
 ,,representatives  ,may #bh1 #bjbj,ms4 
,meng submitted the following           
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce     
,,resolution  ,raising awareness        
regarding period poverty4  ,whereas     
,national ,period ,poverty ,awareness   
,week is recognized on ,may #be through 
,may #ca1 #bjbj2 ,whereas1 since #bjac1 
,menstrual ,hygiene ,day is annually    
commemorated on ,may #bh to raise       
awareness and catalyze action around the
 challenges menstruation poses to       
individuals around the world2 ,whereas  
more than half of the ,united ,states   
population will likely menstruate every 
month for decades of their lives2       
,whereas menstrual products are a       
necessity each month for millions of    
people across the country2 ,whereas     
studies have shown that #a in #d women  
and girls reports that she struggles to 
afford menstrual products2 ,whereas this

 lack of menstrual products1 often      
called period poverty1 can adversely    
affect a person's health and well-being2
 ,whereas studies have shown that #a in 
#e women and girls reports missing work 
or school due to a lack of access to    
menstrual products2 ,whereas period     
poverty exacerbates the vicious cycle of
 poverty by further marginalizing those 
who menstruate1 causing them to withdraw
 from daily life1 forego pay1 or miss   
educational opportunities2 ,whereas     
period poverty can increase the risk of 
infections1 because of the use of       
substitutes1 such as paper towels or    
toilet paper1 or because of an inability
 to change products as frequently as    
recommended2 ,whereas period poverty    
existed long before the ,,covid-#ai     
pandemic2 ,whereas the ,,covid-#ai      
pandemic has forced millions of people  
out of work1 and thereby exacerbated the
 socioeconomic and health challenges of 
individuals facing period poverty2      
,whereas menstrual products are         

essential to the health and economic    
well-being of individuals in both       
overcoming and recovering from the      
,,covid-#ai pandemic2 and ,whereas      
frontline health care workers in the    
fight against the ,,covid-#ai pandemic  
have reported the challenges of working 
extended shifts in full-body protective 
gear while managing their periods1 and  
that their overall menstruation needs   
have been overlooked3 ,now1 therefore1  
be it ,that the ,house of               
,representatives-- 7#a7 recognizes the  
contributions of individuals and        
entities that operate or support period 
supply banks and distribution programs  
in their local communities1 prior to and
 in response to the ,,covid-#ai         
pandemic2  7#b7 recognizes the          
generosity of the people of the ,united 
,states for supporting those struggling 
with period poverty by donating         
menstrual products2  7#c7 recognizes the
 contributions of menstrual equity      
advocates for advancing the menstrual   

equity movement and policy2  7#d7       
encourages the people of the ,united    
,states to observe ,national ,period    
,poverty ,awareness ,week and ,menstrual
 ,hygiene ,day2  7#e7 calls on relevant 
,federal agencies1 including the        
,department of ,health and ,human       
,services and the ,federal ,emergency   
,management ,agency1 to work with ,state
 and local officials to collect data on 
the menstruation needs of frontline     
health care workers2 and  7#f7 urges    
local1 ,state1 and ,federal agencies to 
ensure free access to menstrual products
 to individuals in need during the      
,,covid-#ai response1 including for     
essential frontline workers1 students1  
low-income families1 individuals        
experiencing homelessness1 and          
incarcerated and detained individuals4