2023 -- S 1063

========

LC002695

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

SUPPORTING “PERIOD POVERTY AWARENESS WEEK” ON MAY 22-28, 2023, IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Kallman, Cano, Lauria, Valverde, Mack, Lawson, DiMario,
Ujifusa, Gu, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: May 23, 2023

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The United Nations has recognized access to menstrual hygiene and care as

a global public health priority and human rights issue; and

     WHEREAS, In 2019, Rhode Island passed legislation eliminating the tax on period

supplies, a step in the right direction, however, there continues to exist negative financial, social,

educational, and medical ramifications for many women and girls, particularly those living in

poverty; and

     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, one in six women and girls, more than 35,000, between the

age of 12 and 44, live below the Federal Poverty Line and often struggle to purchase period

products due to their or their family’s lack of income; and

     WHEREAS, In the United States, one in four teenaged young women has missed a class

due to a lack of access to adequate period supplies, and one in five low-income women report

missing work due to lack of access to period supplies; and

     WHEREAS, For women and girls who live below the Federal Poverty Line, there is often

a no-win choice between paying for food or period products, and has too often resulted in the use

of alternate unsanitary practices and products putting their health at risk; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, during menstruation, women are often forced to disrupt their

regular activity, resulting in missed opportunities, negative effects on their self-esteem, and social

stigma; and

     WHEREAS, Adequate availability, dignity, and justice is deserved and must be inherent

to solving Period Poverty and menstrual social stigma in Rhode Island and across the globe; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby memorializes “Period

Poverty Awareness Week” on May 22nd – 28th, 2023, and supports the global effort to raise

awareness about the need for period products to be more accessible and affordable, to break the

stigma of menstruation, and efforts to advocate for policy and funding to make these goals a

reality; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Quinn Coleman, Service Director, Period

Equity at Brown University, amenityaid in Warwick, and the RI Foundation.

========

LC002695

========

LC002695 - Page 2 of 2