For people who menstruate, period products are a necessity. Unfortunately, there are far too many that do not have access or resources to purchase them every month.  1 in 5 women/girls in low income communities have missed work, school and other commitments because they did not have enough period products.

This is a health issue as well. When period products are scarce or unaffordable, people resort to wearing tampons longer than they should, which increases infection risk and may lead to cancer. Often times, people resort to using socks, rags, baby diapers, newspapers, or use makeshift tampons which are not sanitary and can cause infections.

Period products are often considered as a "luxury good" when it comes to using government benefits for these necessary items. Yes, they are on the same list as alcohol, (and in some states they are still taxed while other trivial goods and even ED pills are untaxed... I digress), which we know is foolish.

There is a bill in NYS, A7777 that will open up SNAP benefits to include period products!! This is a big step in the fight against period poverty because it opens up an avenue to make pads and tampons more accessible for people who need them. If this bill passes it will follow Illinois which passed HB155 which made diapers and period supplies approved for WIC & SNAP.

Period products are a necessity. This bill is the right thing to do.