# COVID-19 Diaper Assistance Act: What It Does

This bill provides $200 million in federal funding to help low-income families afford diapers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money goes to states through an existing social services program, and states then distribute it to nonprofits and social service agencies that can get diapers directly to families who need them.

The bill recognizes that diapers are a real financial burden for struggling families. Before the pandemic, about one in three American families with young children couldn't afford enough diapers to keep their kids clean and healthy. Low-income families spend roughly 14 percent of their income on diapers—far more than wealthier families—because they can't buy in bulk or shop online for discounts. When families can't afford diapers, parents sometimes miss work to care for their children or deal with diaper-related health problems, which creates a cycle of missed paychecks and medical expenses.

The pandemic made this problem worse. Nonprofit diaper banks that normally help families saw their demand double, triple, or even increase more dramatically as the economic shutdown hit families hard. These nonprofits alone couldn't keep up. This bill gives states money to work with local nonprofits and social agencies to distribute diapers and related supplies like wipes and diaper cream to families in need. States have until the end of 2021 to use the money, and organizations receiving the funds must spend it by the end of 2022. The goal is straightforward: get diapers into the hands of families who can't afford them so kids stay healthy and parents can keep working.

COVID–19 Diaper Assistance Act

Lee, Barbara

COVID-19 Diaper Assistance Act This bill provides additional funding for FY2021 for the Social Services Block Grant to provide diapers, wipes, and other diapering supplies to families in need. This grant is a flexible funding stream used by states and territories to support a wide range of social services.