May 7, 2024
Harrisburg, PA − May 7, 2024 – Pennsylvania Senators, state Representatives, and others gathered for a press event to support and advocate for Governor Shapiro’s proposal to fund period products in public schools through this year’s budget. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. students cannot afford period products, threatening their ability to receive the education they deserve. Lawmakers and other Pennsylvania leaders and advocates joined in support of the proposal and highlighted why the legislature needs to include this proposal in the final budget.
In his second budget address as Governor, Governor Josh Shapiro took the time to propose a $3 million investment into public schools to provide period products at no cost to students. A big supporter of this proposal has been Pennsylvania’s First Lady, who stood in support at the press conference.
“Today, I was proud to stand with leaders from across our Commonwealth to bring attention to critical issues facing young women and girls in Pennsylvania,” said First Lady Lori Shapiro. “I’ve spent time listening to young women and girls in Pennsylvania who have been forced to miss school or other opportunities due to not having the menstrual products they need. We need to support and empower those girls — and that’s why Josh included $3 million in this year’s budget proposal to provide pads and tampons in schools at no cost to our students.”
“This $3 million investment – a fraction of a percentage of our total budget – is all it will take to provide period products in public school restrooms and make sure students can remain safe, healthy, and focused in class. I’m grateful to have a Governor who knows ‘period’ is not a bad word, and a First Lady who has brought menstrual equity to the forefront in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Maria Collett (D-12). “Together, we can get this program across the finish line and continue to advocate for the 2 in 5 menstruators who struggle to afford period products.”
As of April 18, 2024, 27 states and Washington D.C. have passed legislation to help students who menstruate have free access to period products while in school. Pennsylvania could be the next state to solve this problem for students.
“Every Pennsylvanian deserves access to the hygiene products they need to live healthy, rewarding lives. Governor Shapiro’s proposal to provide period products free to every public school in Pennsylvania is uncontroversial and will have a significant impact on the lives of many of our students,” said Senator Judy Schwank (D-11). “We have garnered strong support for this proposal from a diverse coalition, and I’m confident we will secure this crucial investment in this year’s budget.”
Funding period products in schools is just the beginning when it comes to tackling menstrual equity in Pennsylvania. Senators Cappelletti and Collett have introduced Senate Bill 906, known as The Pennsylvania Menstrual Equity Act, a bill that will require Pennsylvania’s public agencies serving those who are young, low-income, homeless, or incarcerated to make these products available at no cost.
“As children and adolescences, it can be extraordinarily difficult to ask for help in meeting our needs – especially ones as stigmatized as menstrual hygiene. So, imagine the added challenge that many students face when their parents can’t afford the period products they need. Or if a student has a difficult relationship with their parent or guardian and doesn’t feel comfortable or safe when asking for the products they need,” said Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-17). “We have the power to eliminate these challenges for our students here in Pennsylvania and ease the stress that threatens their ability to get their education to the fullest extent.”
Leaders and representatives of the Shapiro Administration were in attendance, including many state agency leaders. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Pennsylvania Department of Health Dr. And Department of Education Executive Deputy Secretary Angela Fitterer all attended and shared their support. “Thank you to First Lady Shapiro and thank you Governor Shapiro for having the courage to put these dollars into your budget,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “Here we are talking about this with the potential opportunity in the budget to correct something that’s been in need of correction, frankly, for many decades.”
Many speakers detailed the lengths at which students who do not have access to the products they need must go to when they have their periods, whether it be using socks, t-shirts, or other unsanitary materials. Dr. Bogen, Acting Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Health, mentioned using these unsanitary solutions puts people at risk of contracting a host of health issues that could affect a student’s health right away or in the future.
In today’s meeting of the House Education Committee, the committee passed House Bill 850, which would require our Department of Human Services to apply to the federal government if a waiver is made available to states to allow those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to use the two programs for menstrual hygiene products. Currently, these programs do not allow for the purchase of menstrual hygiene products, despite being a necessity. A related bill, House Bill 851, would create a grant program to provide eligible public-school entities with funding to acquire and distribute menstrual hygiene products at no expense to students. That bill has yet to move in committee.
Representative Darisha Parker (D-198), the prime sponsor on House Bill 851, spoke at the news conference, sharing, “When you talk about this lane of work, it is hard. It is very embarrassing that a woman like me, today, will be walking with a box of tampons to tell the Senate to pass House Bill 851.”
Find the recording of the press conference here.
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June 22, 2023
Harrisburg − June 22, 2023 − The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has unanimously passed SB 262, which will require the Department of Health to annually publish severe maternal morbidity data using hospitalization discharge data.
The CDC defines severe maternal morbidity as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short or long-term consequences to a woman’s health. The bill will allow Pennsylvania to track the prevalence of maternal morbidity in the commonwealth and provide valuable data.
SB 262 is part of a package of bills aimed at addressing maternal mortality and improving maternal health outcomes introduced by Schwank with House companion bills prime sponsored by Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia). The bill has the support of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus.
Research published in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology finds that for every maternal death, 100 women suffer from severe maternal morbidity. In 2021 alone, roughly 120,500 women nearly died from childbirth.
Additionally, the U.S. maternal mortality rate is consistently higher than other wealthy nations. Black women are disproportionately impacted by maternal mortality, with a rate 2.6 times higher than White women.
Alarms were raised around Black maternal health when Olympic track and field star Tori Bowie died from childbirth complications in May of 2023. Schwank said Bowie’s story demonstrates how much work is yet to be done to fully address the maternal mortality crisis at all levels of government.
“We have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to end maternal mortality in Pennsylvania and throughout the country,” said Schwank. “Tori Bowie was a world-class athlete and only 32 years old. Her story is a tragedy, and I think we need to be very clear about this; we have the ability to do so much better. Lives are literally on the line.”
Dr. Aasta Mehta, the Medical Officer of Women’s Health at the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health, said SB 262 will make pregnancy safer for all Pennsylvanians.
“I applaud the General Assembly for passing SB 262 which empowers the Department of Health to release yearly data on the incidence of severe maternal morbidity in the commonwealth,” Mehta said. “This information serves as a vital tool for monitoring and surveillance, identifying risk factors, improving healthcare quality, and evaluating interventions. By understanding the patterns and causes of severe complications during pregnancy and childbirth, we can develop targeted strategies to reduce maternal morbidity rates and enhance the overall well-being of birthing people. Commitment to data-driven decision-making and evidence-based policies will drive us towards a future where every birthing person receives the comprehensive care they deserve, ensuring safer pregnancies and brighter futures for families.”
Schwank also said she’s optimistic that the unanimous bipartisan support for SB 262 will open the door for more collaborations on legislation addressing maternal mortality.
“I think we are realizing that this impacts all of us,” Schwank said. “With that in mind, we must work together to improve maternal health outcomes for all Pennsylvanians. I’m very pleased that SB 262 passed both chambers with unanimous support. I hope we can continue to work in a bipartisan manor to address maternal morbidity and mortality.”
SB 262 will now head to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk to be signed into law.
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March 7, 2023
Harrisburg, PA- March 7, 2023 — Following Governor Josh Shapiro’s inaugural Budget Address to the Joint General Assembly today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and advocates applauded the Governor’s proposed $38.5 million investment to continue the Universal Free Breakfast Program and expand access to free lunch.
Pennsylvania’s Universal Free Breakfast Program began on October 1, 2022 after Senator Williams, legislators, and advocates, including the School Nutrition Association of PA (SNAPA) and the Greater Pittsburgh Area Food Bank, urged Governor Wolf to act after the Federal Government ended funding and waivers that had provided free breakfast and lunch for all students during the pandemic. This program provides free school breakfast to all students at schools that participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. However, the Universal Free School Breakfast Program was limited to the 2022-23 school year.
“I was incredibly encouraged to hear that Governor Shapiro included extending the Universal School Breakfast program and expanding access to free lunch in his first budget address,” said Senator Williams. “These programs provide our students with healthy meals that allow them to be ready to learn every single day. Providing breakfast and lunch is just as essential to learning as providing textbooks and desks—students can’t learn when they’re hungry.”
Within a month of the implementation of the Universal Free Breakfast Program, local school districts saw participation in their breakfast programs skyrocket by as much as 42%, as students took advantage of the opportunity to have a healthy breakfast to fuel their bodies and brains before a day of learning.
“I’ve heard from students who are excited to be able to spend time eating with their friends in the morning, now that breakfast is available to everyone again. Kids know when they’re being singled out for free meals, no matter how hard the adults try to hide it. When we level the playing field, we eliminate the shame and make meals a fun and community experience again,” said Senator Williams. “I’ve also heard from parents and caregivers that the Universal Breakfast Program has been an invaluable help, especially as we see prices rise at the grocery stores, gas stations, and utility bills.”
SNAPA also commended Governor Shapiro today for his continued support of the education and health of Pennsylvania’s school children by proposing funds that support school breakfast at no cost. “Continuing universal free school breakfast across Pennsylvania helps to ensure every student will start their day with a healthy, nutritious meal,” said Melissa Froehlich, SNAPA Public Communication Chair. “Research supports that a well-nourished child who starts the day with breakfast is more likely to be at school, has improved concentration and is more willing to participate in the classroom. Universal free breakfast for all students in Pennsylvania will strengthen child nutrition programs, and address equity and stigmas around school breakfast so more children will have access to nutritious meals and set our students up for success in the classroom.”
Senator Williams and Senator Schwank have introduced Senate Bill 180 that will codify the Universal School Meals program, which will provide all students both breakfast and lunch and also erase existing lunch debt, allowing school districts to start fresh at the beginning of this new program. The full text of the legislation is available here. Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-20) has introduced companion legislation in the House.
Senator Schwank also applauded Governor Shapiro’s proposed investment in school meals, saying “When students go hungry, they aren’t in a position to excel in the classroom and reach their full potential. That’s why I’m so encouraged to see the extension of Pennsylvania’s Universal Free Breakfast Program included in Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal. It’s of benefit to all Pennsylvanians to help our kids succeed by providing them with the nutritious meals they need to get the most out of the school day. I’m very optimistic that we can work across the aisle and accomplish this in this year’s budget.”
Individuals can learn more about the Universal School Meals program and how it fits into combatting child hunger here. You can also sign on to be a part of the citizen coalition urging legislators to support Universal School Meals legislation and fight child hunger here.
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