IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 351 

Recognizing the impact the stigmatization of menstruation has on the lives 

of women, girls, and people who menstruate, and expressing support 

for the designation of the month of May as ‘‘National Menstrual Health 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 2, 2023 

Ms. MENG (for herself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mrs. 

BEATTY, Mr. EVANS, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. 

NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, and Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 

Recognizing the impact the stigmatization of menstruation 

has on the lives of women, girls, and people who menstruate, and expressing support for the designation of 

the month of May as ‘‘National Menstrual Health Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas menstrual health is an integral part of overall health 

because most women menstruate, on average, for 40 

years of life between menarche and menopause; 

Whereas the World Bank estimates that globally, 

500,000,000 people lack access to menstrual products 


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•HRES 351 IH 

and clean, safe water and sanitation facilities for menstrual hygiene management; 

Whereas the United Nations Population Fund recognizes that 

menstruation is intrinsically related to human dignity; 

Whereas menstrual health impacts the fulfillment of rights 

such as adequate and secure housing, education, safe and 

healthy working conditions, and freedom from discrimination; 

Whereas access to safe, private water and sanitation facilities 

is essential for effectively managing menstrual hygiene 

with dignity; 

Whereas cultural stigma and lack of access to menstrual 

health and hygiene education, sanitation, and infrastructure can limit access to school, employment, and religious 

activities; 

Whereas negative stigmas around menstruation can impact 

girls from the onset of puberty and throughout the remainder of their lives; 

Whereas menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life for 

most women and girls, yet, in many societies, the experience of menstruators continues to be constrained by cultural taboos and discriminatory social norms; 

Whereas the lack of resources for safe and dignified management of menstruation can cause discomfort and psychological stress and add to the shame and sometimes depression that women and girls experience as a result of 

menstruation-related taboos and stigma; 

Whereas women’s health research continues to be understudied, resulting in a lack of research and education 

around menstrual and uterine health issues such as 


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•HRES 351 IH 

fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome, 

impacting millions of women in the United States; 

Whereas an investment in menstrual health is an investment 

in gender equity and equality; and 

Whereas menstrual health disparities impact economic opportunities and empowerment: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

3 Menstrual Health Awareness Month’’, which are 

4 to— 

5 (A) normalize menstruation as a healthy 

6 biological process and eliminate period stigma; 

7 (B) educate young people to understand 

8 menstrual health management and its impacts 

9 on the overall physical health, mental health, 

10 and well-being of women, girls, and those who 

11 menstruate; 

12 (C) support the development of new sup13 portive standards of menstrual health education 

14 and care for menstruating girls, women, and 

15 people; and 

16 (D) improve access to care, treatment, and 

17 information regarding menstrual health, includ18 ing for conditions such as dysmenorrhea, 

19 fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary 

20 syndrome; 


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•HRES 351 IH 

1 (2) acknowledges the importance of ensuring 

2 access to appropriate menstrual products and safe, 

3 private sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools 

4 and workplaces in the United States and abroad; 

5 (3) recognizes the importance of promoting 

6 health equity and addressing the burden negative 

7 stigmas around menstruation have on women, girls, 

8 and those who menstruate; 

9 (4) recognizes the importance of expanding clin10 ical research and health education on conditions im11 pacting menstrual health such as fibroids, endo12 metriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome; and 

13 (5) supports the designation of a ‘‘National 

14 Menstrual Health Awareness Month’’. 

Æ 


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