Your voice counts
Policy + Legislation
A core mission of the Alliance for Period Supplies is to raise awareness of the lack of access to period supplies facing individuals in need. In fact, 2 in 5 women struggled to purchase period supplies within the past year due to lack of income.
We also are empowering people to advocate for changes in law and policy to address period poverty and the tampon tax at the local, state, and national level. Individuals and not-for-profit organizations (like Alliance for Period Supplies Allied Programs) can lobby their elected officials to ask for laws that help ensure all individuals have the essential period supplies necessary to fully participate in daily life.
The Alliance for Period Supplies provides tools for community advocacy. You can raise awareness about period poverty in your town, work to affect change on a state level, and improve conditions for many individuals who struggle to purchase period products due to lack of income.
Advocacy vs. Lobbying
Advocacy is education – telling lawmakers about period poverty need, about what you do as a program in your community, and sharing the stories of the people served by your program – these are all examples of advocacy. There is no limit to advocacy.
Lobbying refers to expressing an opinion in communication with lawmakers about specific legislation. For example, asking a member of Congress to vote for or against a particular bill, and asking a member of your state legislature to introduce a bill to exempt period supplies from sales tax are instances of lobbying.
501(c)(3) organizations can lobby as long as lobbying is not a “substantial portion of their activity.” Because “substantial” is not defined, the IRS has created an option for organizations to measure their lobbying activity according to set monetary limits, which are easy to track. In order to take advantage of this, an organization must file what is known as a 501(h) election. It is recommended that all period banks file a 501(h) election.
To learn more about 501(h) elections, see what the National Council of Nonprofits says here.
Period Legislation
Every year bills are introduced to help end period poverty and achieve menstrual equity. Many bills are introduced but few end up becoming law. Learn about the bills proposed in your state and use the tools on this page to reach out to your state legislators.
Tampon Tax
Many U.S. states tax period products like luxury goods. Find out if your state is one of them and learn about the legislatures that worked hard to end the tampon tax in their state.
Period Products in Schools
States around the nation have passed legislation to help provide students with period products. Without period products students miss school and can’t focus on their education.
Student Advocacy Toolkit
Period products are school supplies. In order for students to be at school and present, these basic necessities are required, yet many schools don’t provide these products. Through advocacy and legislation, the Alliance for Period Supplies is working to ensure that states mandate and fully fund providing products in schools.
Download our Student Advocacy Toolkit to learn more about advocating to get period products in your school.
Model Legislation
Many states have passed legislation in the past few years to have free period products in school bathrooms. Below is a form to download our model legislation. This is our recommendation for bills but each state is different. For help crafting state specific legislation, please email Lacey Gero.
Download Model Legislation: Period Products in Schools
Period supplies bill before congress
Menstrual Equity for All Act (H.R. 3646): Reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6) during Period Poverty Awareness Week 2023, the Menstrual Equity for All Act (ME4All) is a comprehensive bill that would expand access to free period products in schools, prisons, shelters and public federal buildings. It would require Medicaid to cover the cost of period supplies, eliminate the tax on period supplies and create a pilot program through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to help families purchase period supplies.
The Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act (H.R. 4475): Reintroduced by Congressman Sean Casten (IL-6) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6) on July 6, 2023. The bill would provide funding through the Social Services Block Grant program to establish and expand programs to provide low-income menstruating individuals with access to period supplies and direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Education to develop best practices for school officials to use in discussing menstruation with students.
Reaching out to elected officials
You can email, write, call, or visit your congressional representatives. Members of Congress have offices both in Washington, D.C. and at least one location in their district. One of the most effective actions is to meet face-to-face with Senators, Representatives, along with candidates, in the member’s home district.
Both offices have staff members who are often the subject matter experts in the office. So, if you can’t meet with the member directly, you can often reach the member by meeting with his/her staff.
In many cases, the staff member may be even more knowledgeable about period poverty and the tampon tax than the member of Congress!
As you begin your advocacy work, you will begin to develop relationships with the staff in your Representative’s office. Building these relationships over time is key to being an effective advocate for change.
Writing a Letter
You can send an email or a letter via the mail to your member of Congress. Personalize it with information about the issue, your program (if you are distributing period products), the community you serve, and how period supplies make a difference. If you are writing about a particular bill, explain how it will affect your program or your community.
Preparing to Meet
You can find your Member of Congress’s office information here. Call the legislator’s office and ask to schedule an appointment. They may prefer that you send an email.
When meeting with your federal legislators or their staff, remember that you are the expert and you are there to give them information about period poverty needs in your community. Share what your program is doing to address it.
Meetings may be very short and may be with staff rather than the member. Often, the staff member will be. the expert on the issue in the Member’s office. Refer to the What to expect when meeting legislators and staff tip sheet to ensure you feel comfortable and are prepared for your meeting.
After You Meet – The Follow Up
Following up after your meeting with elected officials, staff or candidates is a critical next step in forming a good working relationship. We encourage you to write a personal thank-you letter to reflect your individual experience. Include specific facts about your local situation. Send the letter promptly after returning home.
Founding Sponsor
470 James St #7
New Haven, CT 06513
203.821.7348
info@allianceforperiodsupplies.org
EIN # 45 - 2823935