Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, we will introduce a resolution recognizing October 12, 2024, as Period Action Day in the Commonwealth. Period Action Day is a national initiative spearheaded by Period, a youth-led nonprofit that works to reduce the shame and silence associated with menstruation and raise awareness of period poverty.   
  

Pennsylvania was one of the first states to remove the so-called “pink tax” on menstrual products, recognizing these items as necessary to millions of Pennsylvanians. However, much more needs to be done to ensure anyone who needs period products can easily obtain them. Lacking access to period products can lead to compromised health, embarrassment due to stigma, even missed days of work or school. Period poverty especially impacts students, low-income and homeless women and girls, transgender and nonbinary individuals, and those who are incarcerated.  

 

The legislature, along with Governor Shapiro, has made a significant step toward combating period poverty by including $3 million in funding through the 2024-25 budget to provide free period products to all school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers in Pennsylvania. This funding will ensure that no student must miss school due to a lack of access to menstrual products, further advancing health equity across the Commonwealth. 
  

Please join us in reducing period stigma and raising awareness of period poverty by co-sponsoring this resolution.