Democratic Representative of New York’s 6th congressional district Grace Meng has taken another step to increase the availability and affordability of menstrual products for those that need them by introducing HR 1882 – the Menstrual Equity for All Act – in the House of Representatives in March.
© Kevin Wolf
If passed, the bill would increase the availability and affordability of menstrual hygiene products in the following ways:
- States will have the option to use federal funds to provide students with free menstrual hygiene products in schools
- Incarcerated individuals and detainees, including those in immigration detention centres, will have free pads and tampons
- Homeless individuals will be given access to menstrual products through funds that cover shelter necessities
- Medicaid will cover the cost of menstrual hygiene products for recipients
- Individuals will be allowed to use pre-tax dollars from their health-flexible spending accounts to purchase menstrual hygiene products
- Employers with more than 100 staff on company payroll will be required to provide free pads and tampons in the workplace
- All public federal buildings will be required to provide free pads and tampons in female toilets
Representative Meng has previously sponsored legislation to establish a tax exclusion, tax credit, and requirements that apply to the purchase or distribution of menstrual hygiene products, including a requirement for menstrual products to include a list of ingredients on the packaging. As she introduced the Menstrual Equity for All Act at an event in Washington DC, Meng said: “Access to safe and affordable menstrual products is a basic need and a healthcare right for over half of our population.”
Read the full text of HR 1882 and track its progress here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1882/text