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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MENSTRUAL EQUITY IN THE PEACE CORPS ACT
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HON. GRACE MENG
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of
the Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps Act.
On March 1st, we recognized the 59th Anniversary of the Peace Corps.
Established by Executive Order 10924, issued by President John F.
Kennedy, and authorized by Congress, Peace Corps has been an enduring
symbol of peace and friendship between the U.S. and our global
community. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) sacrifice over two years of
their time, working side by side with local leaders to combat some of
the most pressing challenges of our generation. This is a
transformational time for many of our volunteers--and I am particularly
proud of the many constituents from my congressional district of New
York's Sixth who have served abroad in Peace Corps.
At the same time, however, I have heard from many PCVs around the
world who struggle to access and afford menstrual hygiene products.
These current PCVs and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) note how
menstrual products are not readily available, or these items are far
more expensive than they would be in the U.S. So many of these
volunteers are also placed in very remote locations. In fact, for one
RPCV who served in an indigenous island, she had to travel by a
combination of cargo ship rides (10+ hours), plane ride(s), small boat
ride, several hour hikes, and hitchhiking to get to and from the
capital, where the Peace Corps Country Office is located. Ultimately,
for some PCVs, not only is there a financial hurdle, but a volunteer
may have to travel extremely far distances to access menstrual hygiene
products.
There is also vast inconsistency in the provision of these products
for the volunteers. Some Peace Corps Medical Officers provide these
products for free to their respective PCVs, while others are left to
purchase the products out of pocket. Other country offices provide an
additional stipend to volunteers to purchase these products, while
other volunteers wait to receive these items in their care packages
from loved ones back home. I also heard a U.S. Peace Corps staff equate
these products to mere razors and shaving cream--ultimately
disregarding the medical necessity for these products.
To address this inequity, I am introducing a bill--the Menstrual
Equity in the Peace Corps Act--to require the enactment of a
comprehensive policy that makes available free menstrual hygiene
products to PCVs, or increase stipends to allow for these expenses.
Menstrual hygiene products are not luxury or toiletry items. These are
medical necessities; a health right and human right. And this is a
simple matter of equality.
Madam Speaker, today, PCVs serve in over 60 countries around the
world. Nearly 65 percent of PCVs are women, and more than 90 percent of
these volunteers are under the age of 50. PCVs are already making both
financial and personal sacrifices in order to represent the United
States abroad, and they are a critical part of U.S. development power.
Peace Corps notes that `nothing is more important than the health,
safety, and security of every single volunteer.'
Indeed, for the health, safety, and security of these volunteers, I
urge my colleagues to support the Menstrual Equity in the Peace Corps
Act. I thank my colleagues who have already joined me in introducing
this critical legislation, and I urge the House of Representatives to
join me in passing this critical legislation.
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