Forecasting Menstrual Product Accessibility Post-H.R.1

Written by Intern Juliet Hayes.

Period poverty—a lack of access to menstrual products—is foremost a result of menstrual products being commodities, i.e., not free. Period poverty is exacerbated by policy decisions, or the lack of, that cause inaccessibility to menstrual products because an individual is limited by financial constraints and/or there is a physical limit of products to purchase within reasonable distance. A February 2025 study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research finds that “16.9 million menstruating women in the United States are living in poverty,” consequently suffering from long term period poverty.[1] An October 2025 Study by Dignity Grows finds that 41.9% of women in their national survey sample have experienced period poverty at least once.[2] Considering the recent federal budget cuts, there is a high likelihood that period poverty will increase across the United States, especially in rural areas, due to the funding cuts of congressional bill H.R.1, signed into law on July 4, 2025.[3]

Menstrual product accessibility has increased in some respects. Various states have passed laws requiring access to menstrual products in schools, prisons/jails, and homeless shelters and exempting menstrual products from sales tax.[4] However, this is state specific. The 2020 congressional CARES Act allows menstrual products to qualify under “FSA” Flexible Spending and “HSA” Health Savings Accounts.[5] However, unemployment rates,[6] underemployment rates,[7] and job layoffs are rising,[8] with women more likely to work part-time instead of full-time than their male counterparts.[9] All these factors decrease the likelihood of those experiencing period poverty to have access to an FSA and/or HSA.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for low-income and disabled menstruating individuals, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) do not cover menstrual products. Food banks providing menstrual products have been slashed by a roughly $460 million cut in federal funding of the Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in March 2025.[10] Following, the July 2025 H.R.1 bill cut SNAP funding, which has and will continue to increase the number of individuals relying on food banks, aggravating the existing undersupply of products.[11] The loss of SNAP benefits will lead menstruating individuals to neglect menstrual product purchases in favor of higher-priority necessities like food. Additionally, SNAP cuts will decrease grocery store sales, potentially causing grocery store closures, including in existing food deserts.

In such case, menstrual product inaccessibility can be addressed through new policy. The federal Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025 (H.R.3644) has been reintroduced, first introduced in 2023, and referred to committees as of May 2025.[12] This bill takes precedence for the 60 individuals making up the congressional Women’s Caucus.[13] Advocating as a constituent for this legislation can be done individually to congressmembers or by joining an advocacy group. In tandem, those who have the means can contribute their funds to those in need through mutual aid networks.

Works Cited

[1] Institute for Women's Policy Research. “Reproductive Health Care Across the LifeSpan.” Federal Policy Solutions to Advance Gender Equity, February 2025, p. 2, https://iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Reproductive-Health-Across-the-Lifespan_IWPR-Federal-Policy-Agenda-2025.pdf.

[2] Dignity Grows, Inc., et al. “Period Poverty in America 2025: Evidence and Insights.” October 2025, p. 6, https://dignitygrows.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-Period-Poverty-in-America-Study-Final.pdf.

[3] "Text - H.R.1 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 4 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text.

[4] American College of Physicians. “Advocacy Toolkit: Period Poverty.” 27 September 2024, https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/state-health-policy/advocacy-toolkit-period-poverty.

[5] "Text - H.R.748 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): CARES Act." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 27 March 2020, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748/text/enr.

[6] Mutikani, Lucia. “US unemployment rate near 4-year high as labor market hits stall speed.” Edited by Richard Chang, et al. Reuters, 5 September 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/us-unemployment-rate-near-4-year-high-labor-market-hits-stall-speed-2025-09-05/.

[7] Economic Policy Institute. “Employment: Underemployment rate.” https://data.epi.org/labor_force/labor_force_under_emp/line/year/national/percent_under_emp/overall?timeStart=1989-01-01&timeEnd=2024-01-01&dateString=2024-01-01&highlightedLines=overall.

[8] Cerullo, Megan. “Employers have cut 1.1 million jobs this year. Here's what's behind the wave of layoffs.” Edited by Aimee Picchi. CBS News, 4 December 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/employers-cut-1-1-million-jobs-2025-why-layoffs-rising/.

[9] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Women in the labor force, 2023: women and workplace flexibilities.” BLS Reports, June 2025, https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/womens-databook/2023/.

[10] Sainato, Michael. “USDA cuts more than $1bn in local food purchases for schools, food banks.” The Guardian, 11 March 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/usda-cuts-food-banks-schools.

[11] Ross, Kyle. “The One Big 'Beautiful' Bill's SNAP Cuts Would Strain Food Banks Amid Rising Food Insecurity.” Center for American Progress, 26 June 2025, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-one-big-beautiful-bills-snap-cuts-would-strain-food-banks-amid-rising-food-insecurity/.

[12] "H.R.3644 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 29 May 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3644.

[13] Borkhetaria, Bhaamati. “Despite widespread support, ‘menstrual equity’ bill has stalled for two sessions in the House.” News From The States, 30 July 2025, https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/despite-widespread-support-menstrual-equity-bill-has-stalled-two-sessions-house%C2%A0%C2%A0.