Dem lawmakers gripe about the 'economic violence' of not being paid to stay home from work when menstruating

Democratic lawmakers complained in late May about employers not providing paid leave for painful menstruation cycles, calling it "economic violence."

"Forcing a worker to choose between paying her rent or losing a day's pay to recover from a grueling gynecological procedure is not a choice. It’s economic violence," Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., said during a press conference on May 21.

Grijalva was joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. , who are backing Ansari's Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act, which is a part of her "H.E.R." (Healthy, Equity, Rights) Agenda.

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The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act (H.R. 8158) — the flagship bill — would provide up to 12 days of paid leave per year for reproductive health needs, including severe menstrual pain, abortions , menopause symptoms, miscarriages, biopsies, vasectomies and more. The "H.E.R." Agenda also includes studies regarding gynecological pain management and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder awareness.

"No one should have to choose between their paycheck and their health to be able to manage that kind of incredible pain," Tlaib said during the press conference.

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Ansari, the youngest woman in Congress , ties the bill to her own period pain, telling TIME in an article published on Sunday that she once woke up the floor of her "local bodega, drenched in sweat, being dragged into an ambulance" and said she has days every month when she feels "barbed wire" inside of her.