[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 406 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 406

       Supporting the goals and ideals of Menstrual Hygiene Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2019

   Ms. Meng (for herself, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. 
     Norton, Mr. Rouda, Ms. Moore, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. 
Schakowsky, Ms. Titus, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Omar, Mrs. Carolyn B. 
Maloney of New York, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, 
  and Mr. David Scott of Georgia) 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


 
       Supporting the goals and ideals of 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 
        menstruating women and girls around the world face;
Whereas the Joint Monitoring Programme of the World Health Organization and 
        UNICEF defines menstrual hygiene management as when ``women and 
        adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management material to 
        absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as 
        often as necessary for the duration of a menstrual period, using soap 
        and water for washing the body as required, and having access to safe 
        and convenient facilities to dispose of used menstrual management 
        materials'';
Whereas 500,000,000 women and girls around the world lack adequate facilities 
        for menstrual health and hygiene management;
Whereas cultural stigma and lack of access to menstrual health and hygiene 
        education, sanitation, and infrastructure can limit access to schools, 
        jobs, and religious activities;
Whereas, around the world, 1 in 3 girls have access to inadequate toilets, and 
        many others face social and cultural restrictions when they have their 
        periods;
Whereas displaced women and adolescent girls, whether by conflict, climate, or 
        natural disaster, face significant barriers to managing monthly 
        menstruation in a safe, private, and dignified manner;
Whereas failing to provide disposal facilities for used sanitary pads or cloths 
        can result in a significant solid waste issue, causing blockage of 
        latrines and pits;
Whereas 25,000,000 women in the United States live at or below the poverty line, 
        often without consistent access to menstrual hygiene products;
Whereas a survey of low-income women in a large United States city published in 
        January 2019 found that nearly two-thirds couldn't afford menstrual 
        hygiene products during the previous year;
Whereas estimates reveal that a woman may spend over $1,700 in her lifetime on 
        tampons, a figure that is multiplied for women who also support children 
        who are menstruating;
Whereas incarcerated women have illustrated that their dignity has been 
        compromised as they seek to access menstrual hygiene products; and
Whereas, in the United States, a school's failure to provide a supportive 
        environment for menstruating students can have negative consequences: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, 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 menstrual hygiene management products, including 
        in schools, employment facilities, prisons, homeless shelters, 
        after natural disasters, and in refugee camps;
            (4) encourages the Administrator of the United States 
        Agency for International Development to integrate menstrual 
        hygiene services in settings including conflict, natural 
        disaster response, refugee and internally displaced persons 
        response, and in development activities in low-income 
        countries;
            (5) urges policymakers and decisionmakers to enact laws to 
        comprehensively address the challenges menstruating women and 
        girls face in the United States and around the world; and
            (6) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        Menstrual Hygiene Day.
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