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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	October 7, 2021 11:26 AM
From:	Representative Sara Innamorato
To:	All House members
Subject:	Menstrual Hygiene Products in PA Colleges and Universities (former HB 2824)

When you enter a public restroom on a college or university campus, you’re provided with basic hygiene products like toilet paper, paper towels, and soap at no cost. To expect a person to bring their own items into a public restroom on campus is absurd, yet 51% of all Pennsylvanians who enter those same facilities find that their basic hygiene needs are not fully met. It’s time to start treating menstruation as a basic hygiene need for our students and provide menstrual hygiene products in public restrooms on Pennsylvania’s public colleges and universities. According to a study released in May of 2021, 23% of teens and young adults struggled to afford period products, and 16% said they’ve chosen to buy pads or tampons over food or clothing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.* Our social safety net programs like SNAP and WIC don’t cover these purchases, leaving low-income individuals with few options to meet their basic hygiene needs. On top of that, many students are balancing an especially precarious budget as they strain to afford tuition, textbooks, and living costs. As we see a rise of food pantries and homelessness on our campuses, it’s clear that our students need some relief. Our bill aims to mitigate one stressor by providing pads and tampons in the bathrooms of public college or university buildings at no cost. Please consider joining me in supporting this legislation and providing college students with the freedom to access the hygiene products they need when they need them.   This legislation was previously introduced as HB 2824 and was supported by MURT, HILL-EVANS, LEE, SOLOMON, RAVENSTAHL, SCHLOSSBERG, RABB, HOHENSTEIN, YOUNGBLOOD, KENYATTA, ISAACSON, DAVIDSON, FRANKEL, O'MARA, OTTEN, SAMUELSON, SIMS, KOSIEROWSKI, DONATUCCI, DALEY, WILLIAMS, McNEILL, GREEN, ROZZI, McCLINTON, DELLOSO and FITZGERALD.   *https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2021/05/20/almost-a-quarter-of-students-struggle-to-access-period-products-new-study-finds/?sh=765492d149de

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