Female public school students, charter school students as well as those who attend the University of Guam and Guam Community College will be able to receive free menstrual products after the governor signed Bill 97-36 into law.

Public Law 36-66, the Period Poverty Act, was authored by members of the Guam Youth Congress with help from the Bureau of Women's Affairs to help fight "period poverty," and give girls access to the necessary products.

According to a release, the bureau conducted a survey of clients at the Department of Public Health and Social Services to determine the extent of Guam’s period poverty issue.

“The overwhelming – and heartbreaking – responses to those surveys told us this is a very real issue for many females on our island,” Director Jayne Flores said. “This law is literally game-changing for many of our school-age females. No longer
will they have to stay home because they don’t have any way to manage their period.”