There are many ways that diaper need/diaper insecurity can be met through legislation and other policies considered by the Congress or the Administration.

Federal Legislation

119th Congress (January 3, 2025 – January 3, 2027)

The 119th United States Congress convened on January 3, 2025.  National Diaper Bank Network is working with elected officials to introduce new legislation, and re-introduce bills from the previous Congress, related to material basic necessities for individuals, children and families.  Updates will be posted here once they become available.

Foushee-Mackenzie The Military Family Diaper Assistance Act of 2025 (H.R. 6138)

Introduced November 19, 2025 by Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, the Military Family Diaper Assistance Act of 2025 (H.R. 6138) would strengthen and expand the reach of basic needs banks and connect more military families with the basic necessities they need to thrive. This bipartisan bill would establish a pilot program of partnerships between military installations and basic needs banks that are members of the National Diaper Bank Network. This bill is the first ever legislation introduced to address diaper insecurity among military families.

    Senate End Diaper Need Act of 2025 (S. 1815)

    Introduced May 20, 2025 by Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Kevin Cramer, and Senator Peter Welch, the Senate End Diaper Need Act of 2025 (S. 1815) would authorize $200 million per year for fiscal years 2026 to 2029 to organizations providing diapers and diapering supplies. The bill would also make diapers qualified medical expenses so that families can purchase them using their HSAs or HRAs. Senator Duckworth, Senate Cramer, and Senator Welch were joined by Senator Mark Kelly as original cosponsors of the bill. 

    House End Diaper Need Act of 2025 (H.R. 3508)

    Introduced May 20, 2025 by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, the End Diaper Need Act of 2025 (H.R. 3508) would appropriate $200 million each fiscal year from 2026-2029 to fund the expansion and scaling of programs addressing diaper need and improving the health and well-being of infants, toddlers, and families across America. This bill also defines diapers as “medically necessary” so that families can purchase them through health savings accounts and HRAs.

      Watson Coleman-DeLauro Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2025 (H.R. 3128) 

      Introduced April 30, 2025 by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, the Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2025 (H.R. 3128) would treat diapers as qualified medical expenses under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and prohibit state and local sales taxes on diapers. 

      Federal Policy Opportunities to Address Diaper Insecurity

      Diapers and TANF

      TANF funds can be utilized either directly to support the provision of diapers through diaper banks to TANF-eligible families or TANF recipients, or through the provision of stipends or vouchers to allow TANF-eligible or TANF recipients to purchase diapers directly.

      Georgia, Michigan, and Indiana, are using TANF funds to provide direct funding to diaper banks and diaper assistance programs. Direct funding through TANF allows existing diaper banks to increase capacity, promote sustainability and partner with state agencies to increase reach.

      Washington, New Jersey, and California, are using TANF funds to provide direct assistance to families that receive diapers in the form of a stipend or voucher. Stipends, or vouchers, through TANF are an efficient option for the provision of diapers to families, allowing them to purchase diapers at accessible stores and use the rest of their TANF benefit on other needs.

        Diapers and Medicaid

        At the federal level, covering diapers under Medicaid is an opportunity to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, acute infections and child and maternal health complications. Diapers should be provided for children under 4, at which point Medicaid will conduct screening for continuing diaper needs for children who are no longer qualified by age.

        Direct Funding for Diaper Banks

        Currently, federal funding for diapers is limited. Launched in 2022, the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot Program (DDDRP) was the first ever pilot program related to diapers. While diaper banks are participating in the program as subgrantees, they are not able to directly apply for the funding and are not the primary recipients of the grant funds. Additional federal funding is necessary to directly support diaper banks as trusted community sources that are experts in the storage, warehousing and distribution of products. Direct funding will also increase the likelihood of sustainability and enable the banks to meet the growing needs of their communities. 

        Diapers & Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV)

        Funding was allocated for a short time period in 2021 to allow MIECHV to provide emergency diapers, wipes and rash cream. The language directed MIECHV to coordinate with diaper banks if practical but did not require MIECHV to work with diaper banks. The funding ended in September 2022. A future policy opportunity could require MIECHV to contract with, and reimburse, diaper banks for providing diapers to families, not on an emergency basis, but rather an ongoing basis.

        Amendment for Child Welfare Reform

        Federal legislation passed in 2018, the Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First), aims to prevent out-of-home placement of children by providing federal reimbursement for the provision of evidence-based mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and/or services such as concrete basic material needs. There is a strong opportunity to prioritize prevention services that provide families with concrete supports like diapers through changes to Family First that require states to include the provision of diapers in their Family First prevention plans.

        Models similar to those piloted in Kentucky and Washington could be structured through Family First to provide families at risk of entry into the child welfare system a stipend or voucher to use at their local diaper bank and/or grocery store to receive diapers. By addressing the basic material needs of families, a safer and more nurturing environment for children can be created, contributing to their well-being and preventing child welfare involvement.

        Policy Opportunities PDF

        Federal Programs Investing in Children and Families

        Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) & Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

        Federal assistance programs do not currently provide adequate funds for buying diapers. Diapers cannot be bought with SNAP (formerly called “food stamps”) or WIC.

        SNAP and WIC should NOT be used for diapers. They are nutrition programs administered by the Department of Agriculture.  Diapers would be a big cost addition to these programs that already face budget challenges.

        Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

        Diapers can be bought with TANF cash assistance, but nationwide only 23% of families living below the Federal Poverty Level receive cash assistance through TANF. In 13 states, fewer than 10 of every 100 families living in poverty receive cash assistance. The funds they do receive are insufficient to buy diapers and pay all the other expenses (utility bills, rent, other hygiene essentials, clothing, etc.) that money is supposed to cover.

        Learn more about TANF here.

        Early Head Start and Head Start

        Diapers are provided to children enrolled in Early Head Start and Head Start center-based programs during the time they are in the center. Diapers are not required in home-based programs. There are not enough slots for all the children who would be eligible for Early Head Start to enroll–only about 4% of children who are eligible can enroll.

        See the program instruction that requires Head Start and Early Head Start to provide diapers here.

        Child Care Development Funds (CCDF)

        The Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program provides subsidies for low-wage families needing child care. Child care centers receiving CCDF though these subsidies are not required to provide diapers. Indeed, most child care programs require parents to provide their own diapers. States may use CCDBG moneys for diapers, but the CCDBG program is so underfunded with so many mandates that for most states, the funds are expended by paying for salaries, facilities, and quality improvement programs. Indeed, in most states, the CCDBG funds for the state does not cover the need.