HARRISBURG, PA — State Representatives Darisha Parker and Carol Hill-Evans, alongside Speaker Joanna McClinton, menstrual health professionals, and Pennsylvania students, gathered on Wednesday to spotlight the issue of period poverty and urge the Senate to pass critical legislation. The proposed bills, H.B. 850 and 851, aim to make menstrual products more accessible for low-income women.
Parker and Hill-Evans authored these bills with a view to addressing a pressing need. House Bill 850 seeks to amend the Human Services Code to allow participants of SNAP or WIC programs to purchase menstrual hygiene products with their benefits. House Bill 851 proposes a grant program under the Public School Code of 1949 to provide schools with funds to distribute period products to students in need.
“We need to speak about periods bluntly,” Parker said. “No more euphemisms or hiding tampons in our sleeves to use the restroom.”
Parker emphasized that menstruation, a natural biological process, is still treated as a taboo subject. “It’s crazy that this natural biological process – a beautiful one that has the power to create life – is still considered a taboo subject,” she continued. Parker highlighted that the lack of access to period products is not just a financial issue but can also lead to substantial health problems and perpetuate poverty.
House Bill 850 would empower women by allowing them to purchase essential period products through SNAP or WIC benefits. “Tampons and pads aren’t a luxury for us,” Parker said. “We don’t choose to participate in our periods every month; these are products we need to preserve our dignity and participate in all of life’s important milestones.”
House Bill 851 would establish a grant program to help schools purchase and distribute period products to students. “The truth we need to broadcast loudly and often is that having a period isn’t shameful or unclean, and it’s not something you should feel obligated to hide,” Hill-Evans said. “When we talk about menstrual health and acceptance, what we are ultimately talking about is our continued fight for empowerment as women.”
The lawmakers shared personal stories to emphasize the importance of the legislation. Parker recalled her own experience of getting her first period during a school assembly without access to necessary products. “I was once that little girl in eighth grade who got her first period during a school assembly,” Parker said. “There were no products available for me to use, and I want to prevent other young girls from having to use paper towels, socks, and even newspapers as period products.”
Period poverty, the lack of access to menstrual products due to financial constraints, affects many women and girls in Pennsylvania. This issue can lead to missed school days, compromised health, and a feeling of shame or embarrassment. By addressing period poverty, these bills aim to ensure that all women and girls can manage their menstruation with dignity.
The implications of passing this legislation are significant. Providing access to menstrual products can improve attendance rates in schools, enhance women’s health, and break down stigmas associated with menstruation. Furthermore, it can help women and girls participate fully in daily life, contributing to their overall empowerment and well-being.
As Parker concluded, “It’s time we empower women and girls in Pennsylvania, instead of forcing them to speak in whispers about a completely natural biological process. Let’s get this done.”
The push for these bills highlights a growing recognition of menstrual health as a vital component of public health and gender equality. If passed, H.B. 850 and 851 could set a precedent for other states to follow, ensuring that menstruation is no longer a barrier to education, health, and dignity.
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