| R 303 |
| 2024 -- S 3084 Enacted 05/21/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| SUPPORTING "PERIOD POVERTY AWARENESS WEEK" ON MAY 20-28, 2024, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Kallman, F. Lombardi, Felag, Ciccone, E Morgan, Britto, Gu, Mack, Cano, and Lauria |
| Date Introduced: May 21, 2024 |
| 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 eight women and girls, more than 29,000, 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 three teenaged young women has missed a class |
| due to a lack of access to adequate period supplies, and two in five menstruators struggle to |
| purchase period products; 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 work, 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 20th – 28th, 2024, 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. |
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| LC006127 |
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