Supporting "Period Poverty Awareness Week" on May 11-17, 2026, in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, The United Nations has recognized access to menstrual hygiene and care as a global public health priority and human rights issue; and

WHEREAS, In 2019, Rhode Island passed legislation eliminating the tax on period supplies, which was an important step in the right direction. However, there continues to exist negative financial, social, educational, and medical ramifications for many women and girls, particularly those living in poverty; and

WHEREAS, More than thirteen percent of Rhode Island women live below the Federal Poverty Line, and two in five menstruators in the State report struggling to afford period products; and

WHEREAS, For women and girls who live below the Federal Poverty Line, there is often a no-win choice between paying for food or period products, and has too often resulted in the use of alternate unsanitary practices and products putting their health at risk; and

WHEREAS, In addition, during menstruation, women are often forced to disrupt their regular activity, resulting in missed work, missed opportunities, negative effects on their self- esteem, and social stigma; and

WHEREAS, Period Poverty Awareness Week, observed May 11-17, 2026, was created by the Alliance for Period Supplies, a national network of nonprofit organizations working to ensure that individuals in need have access to essential period products required to fully partake in the activities of daily living, and to raise awareness about period poverty and its impacts; and

WHEREAS, Amenity Aid, Rhode Island's only hygiene bank and one of the largest in the country, represents the State within the Alliance for Period Supplies and provides essential hygiene products to those in need through partnerships with ten social service agencies across the State, helping ensure all individuals can participate fully in daily life; and

WHEREAS, Hygiene insecurity and period poverty are equity issues that disproportionately affect marginalized communities and people of color, and there are currently no government assistance programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) that address this widespread need; and

WHEREAS, Adequate availability, dignity, and justice is deserved and must be inherent to solving period poverty and menstrual social stigma in Rhode Island and across the globe; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby memorializes “Period Poverty Awareness Week” on May 11-17, 2026, and supports the global effort to raise awareness about the need for period products to be more accessible and affordable, to break the stigma of menstruation, and efforts to advocate for policy and funding to make these goals a reality; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Amenity Aid, Period Equity at Brown University, and the Rhode Island Foundation.