Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Families Afford Diapers

Statement

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) on the bipartisan Diaper Inclusion in Accounts for Parental Expense Reduction (DIAPER) Act effort to help parents afford and get access to diapers.

"Diapers can be costly, but they are a necessity for all newborns and toddlers. No family should be forced to go without diapers due to affordability," said Senator Cramer. "Our bipartisan approach will improve families' access to diapers, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, to help families in need."

"Having access to a clean diaper is a basic and absolutely essential necessity for every Iowa parent with a newborn or toddler, but with costs soaring under record inflation, far too many families today are facing difficult choices," said Senator Ernst. "Addressing this essential need of our parents while prices continue to go up should be a priority for our lawmakers, which is why I'm so pleased to lead this bipartisan proposal to help families get better access to diapers amid cost surges nationwide."

The bipartisan bill expands flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs)--which can be used to purchase a number of items relating to health expenses such as adult diapers and bandages--to also include the purchase of disposable infant diapers. It is an effort building on his past bipartisan work to help improve families' access to diapers.

Additional cosponsors on the DIAPER Act include Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). National stakeholders also offered statements of support on this legislation.

"Diapers are a basic necessity for keeping children clean, dry, and healthy. However, one in three families struggle to get the diapers they need, leading to preventable health conditions that can require medical intervention. This important legislation recognizes diapers for the essential items that they are and makes it easier for many families to afford the diapers they need," said Joanne Goldblum, CEO of the National Diaper Bank Network.

"Diapers are a fundamental need for families with babies and toddlers, and this legislation provides families with a valuable new option to better afford this necessary expense. We look forward to supporting this legislation and continuing to work with Senator Ernst to ensure that all families have the supports they need to meet this critical basic need," said Daniel Hains, Senior Policy Analyst with Zero to Three.

"One out of three families struggle to buy diapers for their children due to high costs, negatively impacting various aspects of life. For instance, many child care facilities require parents to provide diapers for their kids, meaning when families can't afford them, their kids miss out on important early learning experiences. We can't allow that to happen. That's why we're so thrilled to support this bipartisan legislation. This bill is an important step to ensure kids and families have what they need to thrive," said Roy Chrobocinski, Managing Director of Domestic Policy at Save the Children.

Background:

In 2021, Senator Cramer joined colleagues in introducing 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.

In 2019, Senators Cramer, Chris Murphy (D-CT), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize the importance of diaper banks across the country. This resolution passed the Senate in September 2019.

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