Bill Overview
Title: Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides additional funding through FY2027 for the Social Services Block Grant to support the provision of menstrual products (e.g., menstrual cups and underwear, sanitary napkins, and tampons) to low-income individuals. (This grant is a flexible funding stream used by states and territories to support a wide range of social services.) The bill also exempts the additional funds from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, across-the-board reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.
Sponsors: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
Target Audience
Population: Low-income individuals globally who menstruate and require menstrual products
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill targets low-income individuals who require menstrual products.
- The Social Services Block Grant supports a wide range of social services indicating a broad potential reach among disadvantaged populations.
- Access to menstrual products is a challenge in many communities globally, affecting millions of individuals.
- Low-income populations, particularly women and individuals who menstruate, are more likely to face challenges affording menstrual products.
Reasoning
- The target population for the policy includes an estimated 20 million menstruating individuals in the U.S. living below the poverty line.
- The available budget over 10 years is significant but must serve a very large population, so individual gains might be small unless targeted strategically.
- Interviews will include a diverse set of individuals within the target population, including those not directly impacted to reflect the policy's limited reach.
- The policy affects individuals directly by potentially reducing financial burden and indirectly by improving access and dignity associated with menstrual health products.
- The impact on well-being may vary significantly based on how accessible individuals find the resources post-policy and existing baseline well-being.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could make a big difference in my life. I constantly have to choose between groceries and menstrual products.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 21 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help supplement what I can't afford with my part-time pay, making budgeting easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Unemployed (Rural Alabama)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry each month about where the money for menstrual products will come from; extra support would be a blessing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 1 |
Full-time Employee (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm slightly above the poverty line but still struggle with expenses like menstrual products. This could help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry less about myself but more about my grandchildren. This policy might help my daughter's family directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
High School Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Thankfully, my family can afford menstrual products, but I'm aware others aren't as lucky.
- This policy sounds important but probably not something I'll directly notice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Community Organizer (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Menstruation products are a necessity, not a luxury. I see too many struggling to access them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Hairdresser (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am always close to having to make hard choices. Free menstrual products would ease some of the burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Warehouse Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Purchasing menstrual products for several family members adds up.
- This policy could relieve a bit of the financial pressure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the policy even though it doesn’t impact me directly. It's about societal well-being and fairness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $110000000)
Year 2: $102000000 (Low: $92000000, High: $112000000)
Year 3: $104040000 (Low: $93840000, High: $114240000)
Year 5: $108244800 (Low: $97593600, High: $118919040)
Year 10: $118395264 (Low: $106352896, High: $130437191)
Year 100: $315053466 (Low: $283548119, High: $346558813)
Key Considerations
- The exemption from sequestration ensures that these funds are protected from automatic budget cuts.
- Periodic monitoring and verification of the distribution process will be crucial to ensure funds reach the intended low-income populations.
- Potential for price stabilization in the menstrual product market due to increased federal purchasing.