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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 3, 2019 11:41 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Danielle Friel Otten |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Lilly’s Bill - Menstrual Hygiene Products in Schools |
| Lilly Minor, a high school student from my district, came to my office to discuss the fact that, at her school, students have limited or no access to menstrual hygiene products in the school bathrooms. While the school nurse’s office may provide these products, in many districts, nurses travel between multiple schools and may not be present during the entire school day; consequently, a student may not have access to menstrual hygiene products when they are needed. My constituent was concerned because if this issue is occurring in a relatively affluent area, the problem is likely to be significantly worse in less well-off regions of our Commonwealth. According to a November 2017 study, nearly 1 in 5 American young women have missed school or left early due to lack of menstrual hygiene products. The lack of access to these products due to economic factors is known as “Period Poverty.” While not having access to menstrual hygiene products is typically associated with those in other countries, period poverty isn’t just someone else’s problem – it’s happening right here in Pennsylvania, and it is time that we act to remedy this issue. Having a menstrual cycle and being without the appropriate menstrual hygiene products should not impact school employees’ or students’ ability to work, go to school, and enjoy aspects of everyday life. Students and school staff should be able to access menstrual hygiene products when they need them, without having to ask someone for them. My legislation would provide menstrual hygiene products, at no cost, in each bathroom of public schools serving students in grades 6 through 12. Please consider joining me in supporting this legislation and providing our students the autonomy to be able to have access to the products they need, when they need them. |
Introduced as HB1708