SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 121

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 11, 2023

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Joint Resolution No. 121.

     This joint resolution designates the last full week of May of each year as “Period Poverty Awareness Week” in order to promote awareness of, and public actions to address, period poverty.  The resolution requests that the Governor annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe “Period Poverty Awareness Week” with appropriate activities and programs.

     Period poverty is defined as inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and education, clean toilets, and handwashing facilities, which can result in menstruators missing school, work, or important events because they lack access to, or cannot afford to buy, the products needed to manage menstrual periods.

     As reported by the committee, Senate Joint Resolution No. 121 is identical to Assembly Joint Resolution No. 113, which was also reported by the committee on this date.