WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Bob Casey (D-PA) this week introduced the End Diaper Need Act, bipartisan legislation to provide resources to assist low-income and middle-class families address their diaper needs and help ensure the health and well-being of those who rely on diapers, including infants, toddlers, medically complex children, low-income adults and adults with disabilities.

“Struggling families and childcare centers are often forced to delay changing a baby or toddler’s diaper within an appropriate amount of time, despite the numerous health problems this can cause,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill gets ahead of that problem by modifying existing health care programs so diapers can be provided and by allowing medically necessary diapers to be purchased through health spending accounts. It would help get low-income families and vulnerable children the help they need.”

The End Diaper Need Act would: 

  • Appropriate $200 million per year for fiscal years 2022 to 2025 for the Social Services Block Grant Program, to be used to provide diapers and diapering supplies;
  • Allow for 200 medically necessary diapers be provided per month for medically complex children through the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program; and
  • Make medically necessary diapers and diapering qualified medical expenses so that families can purchase them using their HSAs or HRAs.

Senators Cramer, Duckworth, and Casey are joined on this bill by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tina Smith (D-MN).

This legislation is endorsed by the National Diaper Bank Network, the Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, the Center for Law and Social Policy, First Focus Campaign for Children, Huggies(R), National WIC Association, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Pampers(R), Parents as Teachers, Proctor & Gamble, and ZERO TO THREE.

Click here for the text of the bill.