[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 713 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 713

Recognizing the importance of diapers to infant health and family well-
   being, and expressing support for the designation of the week of 
   September 18-24, 2023, as ``National Diaper Need Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2023

   Ms. DeLauro (for herself and Ms. Lee of California) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                           and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the importance of diapers to infant health and family well-
   being, and expressing support for the designation of the week of 
   September 18-24, 2023, as ``National Diaper Need Awareness Week''.

Whereas diapers are a material basic need essential to keeping babies and 
        toddlers clean, dry, and healthy;
Whereas national surveys and research studies report that diaper need, the 
        condition of not having a sufficient supply of clean diapers, affects 
        nearly 1 in 2 families with young children throughout the United States;
Whereas infants and toddlers go through 6 to 12 diapers each day during the 2 to 
        3 years that they wear diapers, and a sufficient supply of diapers can 
        cost families $80 to $100 a month or more, consuming 14 percent of a 
        low-wage family's post-tax income;
Whereas a daily or weekly supply of disposable diapers is generally an 
        eligibility requirement for babies and toddlers to participate in 
        childcare programs and quality early education programs that enable 
        children to thrive and parents to work;
Whereas parents struggling with diaper need report missing an average of 5.1 
        days of work each month because they cannot utilize childcare programs, 
        which means lost income and the creation of a vicious cycle that makes 
        purchasing diapers even more difficult;
Whereas diaper need presents a preventable public health issue;
Whereas without enough diapers, babies and toddlers risk infections and health 
        problems that may require medical attention and intervention;
Whereas the costs associated with seeking medical care can further burden or 
        even break a family's already stretched budget, thereby destabilizing 
        the family's economic prospects and well-being;
Whereas diaper banks work in local communities to provide a stable and 
        sustainable supply of free diapers to families that are struggling with 
        diaper need;
Whereas there are more than 300 basic needs bank members of the National Diaper 
        Bank Network located in all 50 States, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico;
Whereas most diaper banks work with a wide variety of local service 
        organizations and agencies to connect with families and provide the 
        necessary support in an efficient and cost-effective manner; and
Whereas the vast majority of diaper banks are completely philanthropically 
        funded, sustained by the generosity of their communities and local 
        businesses: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Diaper Need 
        Awareness Week'';
            (2) acknowledges the tremendous work of diaper bank 
        leaders, both staff and volunteers, across the country that 
        support hundreds of thousands of children and their parents in 
        accessing the basic necessities they need to survive and 
        thrive; and
            (3) encourages the citizens of the United States to donate 
        generously to diaper banks and diaper drives, and support those 
        organizations that collect and distribute diapers to families 
        struggling with diaper need, so that all of America's children 
        and families can thrive and reach their full potential.
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