Bill Text: NJ SCR154 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Declares May 28 of each year as Menstrual Equity Day in New Jersey.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [SCR154 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-SCR154-Introduced.html

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 154

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Declares May 28 of each year as Menstrual Equity Day in New Jersey.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Concurrent Resolution declaring May 28 of each year as Menstrual Equity Day in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, May 28 is designated internationally to be Menstrual Hygiene Day, and has been observed each year since 2014 to serve as a reminder that women, girls, and transgender individuals across the world continue to face a variety of unnecessary challenges due to their menstruation; and

Whereas, Periods are a natural biological function, and period supplies are necessary products, not luxury items, for those who menstruate; and

Whereas, Research shows that, due to a lack of income, one in four menstruators nationwide lives in "period poverty," which describes the struggle to secure adequate period supplies for women, girls, and transgender individuals to meet their menstrual needs each month; and

Whereas, In New Jersey, one in eight menstruators between the ages of 12 and 44 live below the federal poverty level, and therefore are likely experiencing period poverty; and

Whereas, Period poverty can result in menstruators withdrawing from daily life to avoid period shame and stigma, leading to lost wages and missed educational opportunities, thereby exacerbating the already vicious cycle of poverty; and

Whereas, Job losses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have disproportionately affected women and increased the number of individuals struggling with period poverty; and

Whereas, Menstrual equity activists and advocates in New Jersey have formed Equality, Period. NJ, which is a Statewide coalition dedicated to eliminating period stigma, period poverty, and barriers to menstrual product access through policy change and advocacy; and

Whereas, Equality, Period. NJ recognizes that period poverty is a public health issue, and that addressing period poverty can lead to improved health and economic outcomes for menstruators; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

 

     1.    May 28 of each year is declared to be Menstrual Equity Day in New Jersey, in order to recognize the service of advocates, period supply banks, and their staff, volunteers, and donors, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis.  The Governor is respectfully called upon to commemorate the day with appropriate programs and activities, and the citizens and elected officials of New Jersey are respectfully encouraged to work on reducing period poverty, eliminating period stigma, and ensuring that all New Jerseyans who menstruate can, with ease and dignity, access safe and affordable menstrual products.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This concurrent resolution declares May 28 of each year to be Menstrual Equity Day in New Jersey, and respectfully calls on the Governor to commemorate the day with appropriate programs and activities and respectfully encourages the citizens and elected officials of New Jersey to work on reducing period poverty, eliminating period stigma, and ensuring that all New Jerseyans who menstruate can, with ease and dignity, access safe and affordable menstrual products.

     Period poverty describes the struggle experienced by many women, girls, and transgender individuals to secure adequate period supplies to meet their menstrual health needs each month.  It is estimated that period poverty affects one in four menstruators nationwide, and one in eight menstruators in New Jersey.  Period poverty can exacerbate issues related to poverty, as menstruators stay home from work or pass up occupational or educational opportunities to avoid the potential shame and stigma of appearing in public with inadequate period supplies to meet their needs.

     Declaring May 28 to be Menstrual Equity Day recognizes the service of advocates, period supply banks, and their staff, volunteers, and donors, particularly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

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