K 497: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 12-18, 2025, as Period Poverty Awareness Week in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 497 BY: M. of A. Burdick MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 12-18, 2025, as Period Poverty Awareness Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to call for awareness to Period Poverty, which affects women and girl's daily lives, because they are unable to afford the material basic necessities they require to thrive; and WHEREAS, Approximately half of the population will have a period every month for decades of their lives, and therefore, period supplies are a necessary product, each month, for millions of people across the country; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 12-18, 2025, as Period Poverty Awareness Week in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, One in four women and girls struggle to secure enough period supplies to meet their needs each month due to a lack of income; this lack of period supplies, known as period poverty, can adversely affect the health and well-being of menstruators; and WHEREAS, In addition, one in five women and girls miss work or school due to a lack of a sufficient amount of period supplies; period poverty exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty by forcing menstruators to withdraw from daily life, losing pay, or missing educational opportunities; and WHEREAS, New York State recognizes the importance of period products to ensure a healthy life and that period poverty is a serious public health issue; and WHEREAS, Addressing period poverty can lead to economic opportunity for the State's people and communities, and improved health for women and all menstruators; thus ensuring all people have access to the basic necessities required to thrive and reach their full potential; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 12-18, 2025, as Period Poverty Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.