2023 -- S 1063
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LC002695
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
SUPPORTING “PERIOD POVERTY AWARENESS WE EK” ON MAY 22-28, 2023, IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senators Kallman, Cano, Lauria, Valverde, Mack, Lawson, DiMario,
Ujifusa, Gu, and Sosnowski
Date Introduced: May 23, 2023
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
WHEREAS, The United Nations has recognized access to menstrual hygiene and care as 1
a global public health priority and human rights issue; and 2
WHEREAS, In 2019, Rhode Island passed legislation eliminating the tax on period 3
supplies, a step in the right direction, however, there continues to exist negative financial, social, 4
educational, and medical ramifications for many women and girls, particularly those living in 5
poverty; and 6
WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, one in six women and girls, more than 35,000, between the 7
age of 12 and 44, live below the Federal Poverty Line and often struggle to purchase period 8
products due to their or their family’s lack of income; and 9
WHEREAS, In the United States, one in four teenaged young women has missed a class 10
due to a lack of access to adequate period supplies, and one in five low-income women report 11
missing work due to lack of access to period supplies; and 12
WHEREAS, For women and girls who live below the Federal Poverty Line, there is often 13
a no-win choice between paying for food or period products, and has too often resulted in the use 14
of alternate unsanitary practices and products putting their health at risk; and 15
WHEREAS, In addition, during menstruation, women are often forced to disrupt their 16
regular activity, resulting in missed opportunities, negative effects on their self-esteem, and social 17
stigma; and 18
WHEREAS, Adequate availability, dignity, and justice is deserved and must be inherent 19
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to solving Period Poverty and menstrual social stigma in Rhode Island and across the globe; now, 1
therefore be it 2
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby memorializes “Period 3
Poverty Awareness Week” on May 22nd – 28th, 2023, and supports the global effort to raise 4
awareness about the need for period products to be more accessible and affordable, to break the 5
stigma of menstruation, and efforts to advocate for policy and funding to make these goals a 6
reality; and be it further 7
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 8
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Quinn Coleman, Service Director, Period 9
Equity at Brown University, amenityaid in Warwick, and the RI Foundation. 10
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