119-hr3644

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3644 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3644

 To increase the availability and affordability of menstrual products 
 for individuals with limited access, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 29, 2025

 Ms. Meng (for herself, Ms. Balint, Ms. Barragan, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. 
 Brown, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Carson, Mr. Casten, Mrs. 
 Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Crockett, Ms. DelBene, 
Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mrs. 
 Foushee, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Goldman of 
 New York, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Green of Texas, Mrs. Hayes, 
Ms. Jacobs, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, 
 Mr. Latimer, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Lynch, Mr. 
 McGarvey, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
 Morelle, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Mrvan, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, 
 Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Quigley, Mrs. Ramirez, 
 Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Schrier, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Simon, Ms. Stansbury, Ms. 
Strickland, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Vargas, 
 Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
 Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, 
 Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and 
 Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
 of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
 concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To increase the availability and affordability of menstrual products 
 for individuals with limited access, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Menstrual Equity 
For All Act of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings.

Sec. 3. Menstrual products for students at elementary and secondary 
 schools.

Sec. 4. Menstrual products for students at institutions of higher 
 education.

Sec. 5. Menstrual products for incarcerated individuals and detainees.

Sec. 6. Menstrual products availability for homeless individuals under 
 Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program.

Sec. 7. Menstrual products covered by Medicaid.

Sec. 8. Menstrual products for employees.

Sec. 9. Menstrual products in Federal buildings.

Sec. 10. Menstrual products in the social services block grant program.

Sec. 11. Menstrual products and taxation.

Sec. 12. Menstrual products in TANF.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) Menstrual products are a necessity each month for 
 millions of individuals across the United States.

    (2) More than half of the United States population will 
 likely menstruate every month for decades of their lives.

    (3) A lack of menstrual products, often called ``period 
 poverty'', can adversely affect an individual's health and 
 well-being.

    (4) Period poverty exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty 
 by further marginalizing individuals who menstruate, causing 
 them to withdraw from daily life, forego pay, or miss 
 educational opportunities.

    (5) Addressing period poverty is essential to ensuring 
 educational equity for diverse populations.

    (6) Studies have shown that 1 in 4 teens and 1 in 3 adults 
 in the United States report struggling to afford menstrual 
 products.

    (7) Studies have shown that 1 in 5 college students in the 
 United States are affected by period poverty.

    (8) Period poverty disproportionately affects Black, 
 Latina, immigrant, and Indigenous households at higher rates 
 than others.

    (9) Individuals living in period poverty are more likely to 
 experience depression than individuals with access to period 
 products.

    (10) Period poverty can increase the risk of infections due 
 to--
        (A) the use of substitutes for menstrual products 
 (such as paper towels or toilet paper); and
        (B) the inability to change menstrual products as 
 frequently as recommended.

SEC. 3. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR STUDENTS AT ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
 SCHOOLS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 4108

    (5)
            (C) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7118

    (5)
            (C) ) is amended--

    (1) in clause
            (vi) , by striking ``or'' after the semicolon;

    (2) in clause
            (vii) , by inserting ``or'' after the 
 semicolon; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (viii) provide free menstrual products to 
 students who use menstrual products;''.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-

Section 4102 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7112) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating paragraphs

    (6) through

    (8) as 
 paragraphs

    (7) through

    (9) , respectively; and

    (2) by inserting after paragraph

    (5) the following:
 ``

    (6) Menstrual product.--The term `menstrual product' 
 means an item used by an individual with respect to 
 menstruation which conforms to applicable industry standards, 
 including--
 ``
        (A) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
 ``
        (B) a menstrual cup or disc; and
 ``
            (C) menstrual underwear.''.
            (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall promulgate rules with 
respect to the definition of ``menstrual products'' in paragraph

    (6) of 

section 4102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7112), as amended by 

section 3

    (b) .

SEC. 4. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR STUDENTS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
 EDUCATION.

    (a) 

=== Purpose ===
-The purpose of this section is to alleviate--

    (1) the barriers to academic success faced by many college 
 and graduate students due to the inability of such students to 
 afford to purchase menstrual products; and

    (2) the unique set of burdens that college and graduate 
 students experiencing period poverty face that can be 
 compounded by lack of access to basic needs such as housing, 
 food, transportation, and access to physical and mental health 
 services.

    (b) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish a 
program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to at least 4 
institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in 

section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), to--

    (1) support programs that provide free menstrual products 
 to students; and

    (2) report on best practices of such programs.
            (c) Application.--To apply for a grant under this section, an 
institution of higher education shall submit to the Secretary an 
application in such form, at such time, and containing such information 
as the Secretary determines appropriate, including an assurance that 
such grant will be used to carry out the activities described in 
subsection

    (e) .
            (d) Community Colleges.--At least 50 percent of the grants awarded 
under this section shall be awarded to community colleges.

    (e) Grant Uses.--A grant awarded under this section may only be 
used to--

    (1) carry out or expand activities that fund programs that 
 support direct provision of free menstrual products to students 
 in appropriate campus locations, including--
        (A) campus restroom facilities;
        (B) wellness centers; and
            (C) on-campus residential buildings;

    (2) report on best practices of such programs;

    (3) conduct outreach to students to encourage participation 
 in menstrual equity programs and services;

    (4) help eligible students apply for and enroll in local, 
 State, and Federal public assistance programs; and

    (5) coordinate and collaborate with government or 
 community-based organizations to carry out the activities 
 described in paragraphs

    (1) through

    (4) .

    (f) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall prioritize--

    (1) institutions with Federal Pell Grant enrollment that is 
 at least 25 percent of the total enrollment of such 
 institution; and

    (2) historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-
 serving institutions, AsianAmerican and Native American Pacific 
 Islander-serving institutions, and other minority serving 
 institutions.

    (g) Menstrual Product Defined.--In this section, the term 
``menstrual product'' means an item used by an individual with respect 
to menstruation which conforms to applicable industry standards, 
including--

    (1) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;

    (2) a menstrual cup or disc; and

    (3) menstrual underwear.

    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 out of funds appropriated for a fiscal year to 
the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education under 

section 741 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1138) to carry out 
the grant program under this section.

SEC. 5. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND DETAINEES.

    (a) Requirement for States.--Beginning on the date that is 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the chief executive officer of each State that receives a grant under 
subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.) (commonly referred to as 
the ``Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program'') shall 
submit to the Attorney General a certification, in such form and 
containing such information as the Attorney General may require, that 
all incarcerated individuals and detainees in that State have access to 
menstrual products on demand and at no cost to the incarcerated 
individuals and detainees, and that no visitor is prohibited from 
visiting an incarcerated individual due to the visitor's use of 
menstrual products.

    (b) Reduction in Grant Funding.--In the case of a State whose chief 
executive officer fails to submit a certification required under 
subsection

    (a) in a fiscal year, the Attorney General shall reduce the 
amount that the State would have otherwise received under 

section 505 
of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 3755) by 20 percent for the following fiscal year.
            (c) Reallocation.--Amounts not allocated to a State under 

section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) for a fiscal year pursuant to subsection

    (b) shall be reallocated under such section to States that submit such 
certifications.
            (d) Menstrual Product.--For the purposes of subsection

    (a) , the 
term ``menstrual product'' means an item used by an individual with 
respect to menstruation which conforms to applicable industry 
standards, including--

    (1) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;

    (2) a menstrual cup or disc; and

    (3) menstrual underwear.

    (e) Availability for Federal Prisoners.--The Attorney General shall 
make rules requiring, and the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall 
take such actions as may be necessary to ensure, the distribution and 
accessibility without charge of menstrual products to prisoners in the 
custody of the Bureau of Prisons, including any prisoner in a Federal 
penal or correctional institution, any Federal prisoner in a State 
penal or correctional institution, and any Federal prisoner in a 
facility administered by a private detention entity, to ensure that 
each prisoner who requires these products may receive them in 
sufficient quantity.

    (f) Availability for Detainees.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that menstrual 
products are distributed and made accessible to each alien detained by 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, including any alien in a facility 
administered by a private detention entity, at no expense to the alien.

SEC. 6. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AVAILABILITY FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS UNDER 
 EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM.

 

Section 316 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11346

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (5) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) in paragraph

    (6) , by striking the period at the 
 end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new 
 paragraph:
 ``

    (7) guidelines that ensure that amounts provided under 
 the program to private nonprofit organizations and local 
 governments may be used to provide menstrual products.''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (c) Menstrual Product.--For purposes of subsection

    (a)

    (7) , the 
term `menstrual product' means an item used by an individual with 
respect to menstruation which conforms to applicable industry 
standards, including--
 ``

    (1) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
 ``

    (2) a menstrual cup or disc; and
 ``

    (3) menstrual underwear.''.

SEC. 7. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS COVERED BY MEDICAID.

    (a) In General.--

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396d) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) by redesignating paragraphs

    (30) and

    (31) as 
 paragraphs

    (31) and

    (32) , respectively; and
        (B) by inserting after paragraph

    (29) the following 
 new paragraph:
 ``

    (30) menstrual products (as defined in subsection

    (jj) );''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
 ``

    (jj) Menstrual Product.--For purposes of subsection

    (a)

    (30) , the 
term `menstrual product' means an item used by an individual with 
respect to menstruation which conforms to applicable industry 
standards, including--
 ``

    (1) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
 ``

    (2) a menstrual cup or disc; and
 ``

    (3) menstrual underwear.''.

    (b) Effective Date.--

    (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph

    (2) , the amendments 
 made by this section shall apply with respect to medical 
 assistance furnished during or after the first calendar quarter 
 beginning on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act.

    (2) Exception for state legislation.--In the case of a 
 State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) that the Secretary of Health and Human 
 Services determines requires State legislation in order for the 
 respective plan to meet any requirement imposed by amendments 
 made by this section, the respective plan shall not be regarded 
 as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely 
 on the basis of its failure to meet such an additional 
 requirement before the first day of the first calendar quarter 
 beginning after the close of the first regular session of the 
 State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment 
 of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case 
 of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of 
 the session shall be considered to be a separate regular 
 session of the State legislature.

SEC. 8. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR EMPLOYEES.

 

Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 
U.S.C. 655) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (h) The Secretary shall by rule promulgate a requirement that 
each employer with not less than 100 employees provide menstrual 
products free of charge for employees of the employer. For purposes of 
the preceding sentence, `menstrual product' means an item used by an 
individual with respect to menstruation which conforms to applicable 
industry standards, including--
 ``

    (1) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
 ``

    (2) a menstrual cup or disc; and
 ``

    (3) menstrual underwear.''.

SEC. 9. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS.

    (a) Requirement.--Each appropriate authority shall ensure that 
menstrual products are stocked in, and available free of charge in, 
each covered restroom in each covered public building under the 
jurisdiction of such authority.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Appropriate authority.--The term ``appropriate 
 authority'' means the head of a Federal agency, the Architect 
 of the Capitol, or other official authority responsible for the 
 operation of a covered public building.

    (2) Covered public building.--The term ``covered public 
 building'' means a public building, as defined in 

section 3301 
 of title 40, United States Code, that is open to the public and 
 contains a public restroom, and includes a building listed in 
 

section 6301 or 5101 of such title.

    (3) Covered restroom.--The term ``covered restroom'' means 
 a restroom in a covered public building.

    (4) Menstrual product.--The term ``menstrual product'' 
 means an item used by an individual with respect to 
 menstruation which conforms to applicable industry standards, 
 including--
        (A) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
        (B) a menstrual cup or disc; and
            (C) menstrual underwear.

SEC. 10. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Increase in Funding for Social Services Block Grant Program.--

    (1) In general.--The amount specified in subsection
            (c) of 
 

section 2003 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397b) for 
 purposes of subsections

    (a) and

    (b) of such section is deemed 
 to be $1,900,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 
 2029, of which the amount equal to $200,000,000, reduced by the 
 amounts reserved under paragraph

    (2)
        (B) for each such fiscal 
 year, shall be obligated by States in accordance with 
 subsection

    (b) .

    (2) Appropriation.--
        (A) In general.--Out of any money in the Treasury 
 of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there 
 is appropriated $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
 2026 through 2029, to carry out this section.
        (B) Reservations.--
            (i) === Purposes ===
-The Secretary shall reserve, 
 from the amount appropriated under subparagraph
        (A) to carry out this section--
            (I) for each of fiscal years 2026 
 through 2029, not more than 2 percent 
 of the amount appropriated for the 
 fiscal year for purposes of entering 
 into an agreement with an eligible 
 entity described in subparagraph
            (C) to 
 assist in providing technical 
 assistance and training, to support 
 effective policy, practice, research, 
 and cross-system collaboration among 
 grantees and subgrantees, and to assist 
 in the administration of the program 
 described in this section; and
            (II) for fiscal year 2026, an 
 amount, not to exceed $2,000,000, for 
 purposes of conducting an evaluation 
 under subsection
            (d) .
            (ii) No state entitlement to reserved 
 funds.--The State entitlement under 

section 2002

    (a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
 1397a

    (a) ) shall not apply to the amounts 
 reserved under clause
            (i) .
            (C) Eligible entity described.--An eligible entity 
 described in this subparagraph is a nonprofit 
 organization described in 

section 501
            (c) (3) of the 
 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation 
 under 

section 501

    (a) of such Code, that--
            (i) has experience in the area of community 
 distributions of basic need services, including 
 experience collecting, warehousing, and 
 distributing basic necessities such as 
 menstrual products;
            (ii) demonstrates competency to implement a 
 project, provide fiscal accountability, collect 
 data, and prepare reports and other necessary 
 documentation; and
            (iii) demonstrates a willingness to share 
 information with researchers, practitioners, 
 and other interested parties.

    (b) Rules Governing Use of Additional Funds.--

    (1) In general.--Funds are used in accordance with this 
 subsection if--
        (A) the State, in consultation with relevant 
 stakeholders, including agencies, professional 
 associations, and nonprofit organizations, distributes 
 the funds to eligible entities to--
            (i) decrease the unmet need for menstrual 
 products by low-income menstruating individuals 
 through--
            (I) the distribution of free 
 menstrual products;
            (II) community outreach to assist 
 in participation in existing menstrual 
 product distribution programs; or
            (III) improving access to menstrual 
 products among low-income individuals; 
 and
            (ii) increase the ability of communities 
 and low-income families in such communities to 
 provide for the need for menstrual products of 
 low-income adults;
        (B) the funds are used subject to the limitations 
 in 

section 2005 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
 1397d); and
            (C) the funds are used to supplement, and not 
 supplant funds that are or have been made available 
 from Federal, State, local, or philanthropic sources to 
 carry out subtitle A of title XX of such Act.

    (2) Allowable uses by eligible entities.--
        (A) In general.--An eligible entity receiving funds 
 made available under subsection

    (a) shall use the funds 
 for any of the following:
            (i) To pay for the purchase of menstrual 
 products by, and the distribution of menstrual 
 products among low-income individuals.
            (ii) To integrate activities carried out 
 under subparagraph
        (A) with other basic needs 
 assistance programs serving low-income 
 families, including the following:
            (I) Programs funded by the 
 temporary assistance for needy families 
 program under part A of title IV of the 
 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et 
 seq.), including the State maintenance 
 of effort provisions of such program.
            (II) Programs designed to support 
 the health of eligible children, such 
 as the Children's Health Insurance 
 Program under title XXI of the Social 
 Security Act, the Medicaid program 
 under title XIX of such Act, or State 
 funded health care programs.
            (III) Programs funded through the 
 special supplemental nutrition program 
 for women, infants, and children under 
 

section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act 
 of 1966.
            (IV) Programs that offer early home 
 visiting services, including the 
 maternal, infant, and early childhood 
 home visiting program (including the 
 Tribal home visiting program) under 
 

section 511 of the Social Security Act 
 (42 U.S.C. 711).
            (iii) To provide training or technical 
 assistance in carrying out activities under 
 this section.
            (iv) To cover administrative costs.
        (B) Limitation on use of funds for administrative 
 costs.--An eligible entity receiving funds made 
 available under this section shall not use more than 9 
 percent of the funds for administrative costs incurred 
 pursuant to this section.
            (C) No limits on where menstrual products may be 
 distributed.--The Secretary may not limit the locations 
 at which menstrual products may be distributed pursuant 
 to this section.

    (3) Availability of funds.--
        (A) Funds distributed to eligible entities.--Funds 
 made available under subsection

    (a) that are 
 distributed to an eligible entity by a State for a 
 fiscal year may be expended by the eligible entity only 
 in such fiscal year or the succeeding fiscal year.
        (B) Evaluation.--Funds reserved under subsection

    (a)

    (2)
        (B)
            (i) 
            (II) to carry out the evaluation under 
 subsection
            (d) shall be available for expenditure 
 through September 30, 2028.

    (4) No effect on other programs.--Any assistance or 
 benefits received by a family through funds made available 
 under subsection

    (a) shall be disregarded for purposes of 
 determining the family's eligibility for, or amount of, 
 benefits under any other Federal needs-based programs.
            (c) Annual Reports.--

Section 2004 of the Social Security Act shall 
apply with respect to payments made to a State under this section in 
the same way it applies with respect to payments made to a State under 

section 2002 of such Act.
            (d) Evaluation.--The Secretary, in consultation with States and the 
eligible entities described in subsection

    (a)

    (2)
            (C) receiving funds 
made available under this section, shall--

    (1) not later than December 30, 2031, complete an 
 evaluation of the effectiveness of the assistance program 
 carried out pursuant to this section, such as the effect of 
 activities carried out under this Act on mitigating the health 
 risks of unmet menstrual products need among individuals in 
 low-income families;

    (2) not later than March 31, 2032, submit to the Committees 
 on Energy and Commerce and on Ways and Means of the House of 
 Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a 
 report on the results of the evaluation; and

    (3) not later than April 30, 2032, publish the results of 
 the evaluation on the internet website of the Department of 
 Health and Human Services.

    (e) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance regarding how 
the provisions of this section should be carried out, including 
information regarding eligible entities, allowable use of funds, and 
reporting requirements.

    (f) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Menstrual product.--The term ``menstrual product'' 
 means an item used by an individual with respect to 
 menstruation which conforms to applicable industry standards, 
 including--
        (A) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
        (B) a menstrual cup or disc; and
            (C) menstrual underwear.

    (2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
 a State or local governmental entity, an Indian tribe or tribal 
 organization (as defined in 

section 4 of the Indian Self-
 Determination and Education Assistance Act), or a nonprofit 
 organization described in 

section 501
            (c) (3) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 

section 501

    (a) of such Code that--
        (A) has experience in the area of community 
 distributions of basic need services, including 
 experience collecting, warehousing, and distributing 
 basic necessities such as diapers, food, or menstrual 
 products;
        (B) demonstrates competency to implement a project, 
 provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and 
 prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and
            (C) demonstrates a willingness to share information 
 with researchers, practitioners, and other interested 
 parties.

    (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Health and Human Services.

    (4) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given in 
 

section 1101

    (a)

    (1) of the Social Security Act for purposes of 
 title XX of such Act.

    (g) Limitation on Authorization of Appropriations.--For the 
administration of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary not more than $6,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 
2029.

    (h) Exemption From Sequestration.--Funds made available to carry 
out this section shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued 
under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

SEC. 11. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AND TAXATION.

    (a) In General.--It shall be unlawful for a State, or unit of local 
government of a State, to impose a tax on the retail sale of a 
menstrual product.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-For purposes of this Act:

    (1) Menstrual product.--The term ``menstrual product'' 
 means an item used by an individual with respect to 
 menstruation which conforms to applicable industry standards, 
 including--
        (A) a sanitary pad, tampon, or liner;
        (B) a menstrual cup or disc; and
            (C) menstrual underwear.

    (2) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the several 
 States or the District of Columbia.
            (c) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 12. MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN TANF.

    (a) In General.--

Section 403

    (a) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 603

    (a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (6) Grants for menstrual products.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary may make grants, 
 on a competitive basis, for each fiscal year to 
 eligible applicants for the grants, in such amounts as 
 the Secretary deems appropriate to enable the eligible 
 applicants to provide, to covered families that include 
 an individual who is capable of menstruating, such 
 benefits as are needed to ensure that the individual 
 can purchase menstrual products for personal use.
 ``
        (B) === Definitions. ===
-In subparagraph
        (A) :
 ``
            (i) Covered families.--The term `covered 
 families' means families eligible for 
 assistance under a State program funded under 
 this part.
 ``
            (ii) Eligible applicant.--The term 
 `eligible applicant' means--
 ``
            (I) a State to which a grant is 
 made under paragraph

    (1) for a fiscal 
 year; and
 ``
            (II) a political subdivision of a 
 State that administers the State 
 program funded under this part in the 
 political subdivision.
 ``
            (iii) Menstrual product.--The term 
 `menstrual product' means an item used by an 
 individual with respect to menstruation which 
 conforms to applicable industry standards, 
 including--
 ``
            (I) a sanitary pad, tampon, or 
 liner;
 ``
            (II) a menstrual cup or disc; and
 ``
            (III) menstrual underwear.
 ``
            (C) Consideration of applications.--The Secretary 
 shall award grants under this paragraph on the basis of 
 how effectively the programs proposed by the eligible 
 applicants will help low-income individuals suffering 
 from material deprivation meet their need for menstrual 
 products.
 ``
            (D) Administration.--A State or political 
 subdivision to which a grant is made under this 
 paragraph may use the grant to provide benefits under 
 this paragraph in such form and in such manner as the 
 State or political subdivision deems appropriate.
 ``
        (E) Treatment of assistance.--Benefits provided 
 using funds made available under this paragraph shall 
 not be considered assistance under any State program 
 funded under this part.
 ``
        (F) Appropriation.--Out of any money in the 
 Treasury of the United States not otherwise 
 appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal year 
 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year $10,000,000 for 
 grants under this paragraph.''.

    (b) Evaluations.--

Section 413 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 613) is 
amended by redesignating subsection

    (h) as subsection
            (i) and inserting 
after subsection

    (g) the following:
 ``

    (h) Evaluations of Grants for Menstrual Products.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
 Congress reports, in writing, that evaluate the effectiveness 
 of the benefit program provided for in 

section 403

    (a)

    (6) . Each 
 such report shall, for the period covered by the report--
 ``
        (A) describe--
 ``
            (i) the extent of material deprivation in 
 the population, including lacking sufficient 
 funds to regularly purchase necessities such as 
 menstrual products; and
 ``
            (ii) the extent to which the program 
 alleviated such material deprivation;
 ``
        (B) specify the number and identity of the 
 entities to which a grant has been made under such 
 section, and the amount of the grant made to each such 
 entity;
 ``
            (C) describe how the grantees used the grants to 
 provide benefits under the program;
 ``
            (D) specify the number of individuals who 
 received the benefits;
 ``
        (E) describe how efficacious the program has been 
 in helping low-income individuals meet their need for 
 menstrual products;
 ``
        (F) describe the extent to which the program has 
 improved the economic security of the benefit 
 recipients; and
 ``
        (G) include such other relevant information as 
 the Secretary deems appropriate.
 ``

    (2) Timing.--The Secretary shall submit a report that 
 meets the requirements of paragraph

    (1) within 2 years after 
 the date of the enactment of this paragraph and every 2 years 
 thereafter.''.
 <all>