Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps Act

Bill: 116-hr-6118
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2020-03-05
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Cosmetics and personal care

Health care coverage and access

Health technology, devices, supplies

National and community service

Peace Corps

Sex and reproductive health

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Peace Corps to ensure access to menstrual hygiene products for its volunteers who require them, either by increasing stipends for such products or providing such products to its volunteers.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6118 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 5, 2020 Ms. Meng (for herself, Mr. Cohen , Mr. Costa , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Hastings , Ms. Norton , Mr. Kennedy , Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire , Ms. Lee of California , Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. McGovern , Mr. Nadler , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Beyer , Ms. Speier , Ms. Shalala , Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York , Ms. Schakowsky , and Mr. Case ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To amend the Peace Corps Act to ensure access to menstrual hygiene products for Peace Corps volunteers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps Act . 2. Access to menstrual hygiene products for Peace Corps volunteers Section 5A of the Peace Corps Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2504a ) is amended— (1) by transferring subsection (e) (relating to antimalarial drugs) to appear immediately after subsection (b) and redesignating such transferred subsection as the first subsection (c); (2) in such first subsection (c), as so redesignated and transferred, by striking The Director and inserting the following: (1) In general The Director ; (3) in the second subsection (c) (relating to certain training), by— (A) redesignating such second subsection (c) as paragraph (2); and (B) moving such paragraph (2) two ems to the right; (4) by redesignating subsection (d) (relating to review and evaluation) as subsection (e); and (5) by inserting before such redesignated subsection (e) the following new subsection: (d) Access to menstrual hygiene products (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Director of the Peace Corps shall establish a comprehensive policy to ensure Peace Corps volunteers who require menstrual hygiene products are able to access such products, either by increasing stipends for such volunteers to purchase such products or providing such volunteers with such products in the generic product types selected by such volunteer as their preferences. (2) Consideration The policy required under paragraph (1) shall take into consideration the availability of menstrual hygiene products for purchase locally, the price of such products, and cultural norms regarding menstruation. (3) Cost If stipends are increased pursuant to the policy required under paragraph (1), the Director of the Peace Corps shall ensure that such increase covers fully the cost of menstrual hygiene products purchased by Peace Corps volunteers described in such paragraph. .