Washington — Actor Halle Berry joined a group of bipartisan senators on Thursday to announce new legislation to promote menopause research, training and education.
"I'm here because I'm standing up for myself. Because I know that when a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women," Berry said. "And all women go through menopause."
The bill, called the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act, is sponsored by a group of women including Sens. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat; Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican; Tammy Baldwin, Democrat of Wisconsin; Susan Collins, a Maine Republican; Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat; and Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia. It would devote tens of millions of dollars to menopause research, to raise public awareness and to train health care providers.
"Menopause is not a bad word. It's not something to be ashamed of. And it is not something Congress or the federal government should ignore," Murray said. "There is no excuse for shortchanging this issue when it comes to federal dollars."
Murray reflected on her time in Congress, noting that issues like childcare, paid leave, workplace harassment, and women's health were often overlooked when she first arrived. However, she acknowledged the progress made in women's representation in Congress and the increased attention to these important issues.
"Despite the strides we've made, there are still many ways in which women's needs are disregarded, dismissed, or stigmatized — and menopause serves as a prime example," Murray emphasized. "Menopause has long been neglected, underfunded, and marginalized."
"I confronted him, saying, 'You understand the reason for my struggle, don't you?' He replied, 'Yes, I do,'" Berry recounted. When she pressed him for an explanation, he challenged her with, "'You explain to me why you're facing this struggle.'" After a back-and-forth exchange, Berry realized that he wouldn't acknowledge it. "I understood that I had to take matters into my own hands. I had to verbalize what no man could: I disclosed, 'I'm experiencing menopause!'"
The future of the legislation in Congress is uncertain. Murray indicated that the current objective is to garner as many cosponsors as possible before presenting the bill to Senate leadership. The bipartisan support demonstrated on Thursday, coupled with the involvement of a celebrity, hints at potential further backing in the upper chamber.
During a meeting at the Capitol last year, Senator Murkowski and Berry discussed the need to focus on menopause and remove the stigma surrounding it. Murkowski questioned why menopause has been a taboo topic and why women's full life spectrum has not been fully considered.
Berry, who has been open about her own menopause experience, emphasized the importance of destigmatizing menopause and having open conversations about this natural phase of life.
