[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 44 (Thursday, March 5, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                MENSTRUAL EQUITY IN THE PEACE CORPS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 2020

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of 
the Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps Act.
   On March 1st, we recognized the 59th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. 
Established by Executive Order 10924, issued by President John F. 
Kennedy, and authorized by Congress, Peace Corps has been an enduring 
symbol of peace and friendship between the U.S. and our global 
community. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) sacrifice over two years of 
their time, working side by side with local leaders to combat some of 
the most pressing challenges of our generation. This is a 
transformational time for many of our volunteers--and I am particularly 
proud of the many constituents from my congressional district of New 
York's Sixth who have served abroad in Peace Corps.
   At the same time, however, I have heard from many PCVs around the 
world who struggle to access and afford menstrual hygiene products. 
These current PCVs and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) note how 
menstrual products are not readily available, or these items are far 
more expensive than they would be in the U.S. So many of these 
volunteers are also placed in very remote locations. In fact, for one 
RPCV who served in an indigenous island, she had to travel by a 
combination of cargo ship rides (10+ hours), plane ride(s), small boat 
ride, several hour hikes, and hitchhiking to get to and from the 
capital, where the Peace Corps Country Office is located. Ultimately, 
for some PCVs, not only is there a financial hurdle, but a volunteer 
may have to travel extremely far distances to access menstrual hygiene 
products.
   There is also vast inconsistency in the provision of these products 
for the volunteers. Some Peace Corps Medical Officers provide these 
products for free to their respective PCVs, while others are left to 
purchase the products out of pocket. Other country offices provide an 
additional stipend to volunteers to purchase these products, while 
other volunteers wait to receive these items in their care packages 
from loved ones back home. I also heard a U.S. Peace Corps staff equate 
these products to mere razors and shaving cream--ultimately 
disregarding the medical necessity for these products.
   To address this inequity, I am introducing a bill--the Menstrual 
Equity in the Peace Corps Act--to require the enactment of a 
comprehensive policy that makes available free menstrual hygiene 
products to PCVs, or increase stipends to allow for these expenses. 
Menstrual hygiene products are not luxury or toiletry items. These are 
medical necessities; a health right and human right. And this is a 
simple matter of equality.
   Madam Speaker, today, PCVs serve in over 60 countries around the 
world. Nearly 65 percent of PCVs are women, and more than 90 percent of 
these volunteers are under the age of 50. PCVs are already making both 
financial and personal sacrifices in order to represent the United 
States abroad, and they are a critical part of U.S. development power. 
Peace Corps notes that `nothing is more important than the health, 
safety, and security of every single volunteer.'
   Indeed, for the health, safety, and security of these volunteers, I 
urge my colleagues to support the Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps 
Act. I thank my colleagues who have already joined me in introducing 
this critical legislation, and I urge the House of Representatives to 
join me in passing this critical legislation.

                          ____________________