Pennsylvania GOP state legislator says free menstrual products in schools ‘leads to communism’

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton County) adamantly objected to a bill advocating for the provision of free menstrual products to students in public schools, even associating it to communism. 

“It is just another step by the governor and Democrats to have government provide everything for you, which leads to communism. A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take everything away,” Borowicz said on the floor.  

Pennsylvania State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton County) speaks against a bill to provide public school funding for free menstrual products.

“It is just another step by the governor and Democrats to have government provide everything for you, which leads to communism.” pic.twitter.com/aiktnoPFbe

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) June 4, 2024

House Bill 851 is a grant program providing eligible public-schools with funding to supply free menstrual hygiene products to students. This legislation was introduced in order to address period poverty, an issue where “two in five people struggled to purchase period products” in 2021, with a much greater impact on Black and Latino communities.

Borowicz also vehemently opposed the use of the term “menstruating people” in the co-sponsorship memo. 

“This bill refers to the number of students in restrooms, which should be female students. Women menstruate,” Borowicz strongly asserted. “I can’t believe I am standing on the House floor in Pennsylvania saying that. Men do not. We need that clarified because they are using menstruating people in the bill.”

The Pennsylvania House officially passed the legislation on Tuesday, though it is still waiting on the consideration of the state Senate.