Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2023
This bill provides additional funding through FY2028 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.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4475 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4475
To provide targeted funding for States and other eligible entities
through the Social Services Block Grant program to increase the
availability of menstrual products for individuals with limited access
to such products.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 6, 2023
Mr. Casten (for himself, Ms. Meng, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Velazquez, Mr.
Morelle, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne, Ms.
Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Gottheimer, Mrs.
Napolitano, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Clarke of New York, and Mr. Garcia of
Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 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 provide targeted funding for States and other eligible entities
through the Social Services Block Grant program to increase the
availability of menstrual products for individuals with limited access
to such products.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Period PROUD (Providing Resources
for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. TARGETED FUNDING FOR MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS THROUGH 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 2025 through
2028, 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
2025 through 2028, 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 2025
through 2028, 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 2025, 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 more than 1 State 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; and
(B) the funds are used subject to the limitations
in section 2005 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1397d).
(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 and
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.
(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, 2030, 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, 2031, 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, 2031, 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) Best Practices.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall develop best
practices for school officials to use in discussing menstruation with
students, and shall publish this information on the internet website of
the Department of Health and Human Services.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Menstrual products.--The term ``menstrual products''
means menstrual cups, menstrual discs, menstrual underwear, and
sanitary napkins and tampons, that conform to applicable
industry standards.
(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) 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.
(h) Limitation on Authorization of Appropriations.--For the
administration of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not more than $6,000,000
for fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
(i) 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.
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