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".

Subjects: Health


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 351 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






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. Barragan, Mrs. 
   Beatty, Mr. Evans, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. 
     Norton, Mr. Payne, and Ms. Velazquez) 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 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 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Menstrual 
        Health Awareness Month'', which are to--
                    (A) normalize menstruation as a healthy biological 
                process and eliminate period stigma;
                    (B) educate young people to understand menstrual 
                health management and its impacts on the overall 
                physical health, mental health, and well-being of 
                women, girls, and those who menstruate;
                    (C) support the development of new supportive 
                standards of menstrual health education and care for 
                menstruating girls, women, and people; and
                    (D) improve access to care, treatment, and 
                information regarding menstrual health, including for 
                conditions such as dysmenorrhea, fibroids, 
                endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome;
            (2) acknowledges the importance of ensuring access to 
        appropriate menstrual products and safe, private sanitation and 
        hygiene facilities in schools and workplaces in the United 
        States and abroad;
            (3) recognizes the importance of promoting health equity 
        and addressing the burden negative stigmas around menstruation 
        have on women, girls, and those who menstruate;
            (4) recognizes the importance of expanding clinical 
        research and health education on conditions impacting menstrual 
        health such as fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary 
        syndrome; and
            (5) supports the designation of a ``National Menstrual 
        Health Awareness Month''.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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