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Meng Urges NYS Assembly Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to Eliminate Sales Tax on Feminine Hygiene Products

March 4, 2016

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) today sent a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan urging them to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products, a day after Governor Cuomo made public his commitment to doing so.

In Congress, Meng has worked on making feminine hygiene products more accessible and affordable to women. She recently convinced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to add feminine hygiene products to the list of items that homeless assistance providers can purchase with federal grant money. She is also sponsoring legislation that would allow women to buy feminine hygiene products with funds from flexible savings accounts.

“I applaud the governor for his commitment to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products and now call on the state legislature to follow suit,” said Meng. “Tampons, pads and other feminine hygiene items are essential products for women and girls. Repealing the tax would finally acknowledge that, and it would make these necessities more accessible to all women in New York State. I urge on the Assembly and State Senate to work with the governor and act quickly on making this change.”

Legislation to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products is presently pending in both chambers.

Click here to view Meng’s letter.