April 10, 2024

Duckworth Meets with Diaper Bank Advocates, Underscores Efforts to Pass Her Bill to End Diaper Need for Low-Income Families Nationwide

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with diaper bank leaders and advocates—including members of the National Diaper Bank Network and Cradles to Crayons Founder & CEO Lynn Margherio—to discuss her efforts to help make it easier for low-income families to afford the diapers that they need for their children. In her meetings, Duckworth highlighted that she was able to successfully secure $20 million in the final fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations package—building on the $20 million she secured in FY 2023 and the $10 million in the FY 2022 appropriations package—dedicated to expanding diaper distribution programs. Building on this progress, the Senator also underscored the need to pass her bipartisan End Diaper Need Act which would help assist low-income families to address diaper need by providing targeted funding for states, territories and other eligible entities working on this issue. Photos of Senator Duckworth’s meetings can be found on the Senator’s website.

“Between putting food on the table and paying the bills, the last thing working parents should have to worry about is whether they can afford something as basic as the diapers their families need,” said Duckworth. “After working for years to secure major funding that is supporting our nation’s diaper banks, there is still more work to do to help people most in need. Today, leaders of the National Diaper Bank Network and Cradles to Crayons and I agreed: Congress must pass my bipartisan legislation so we can help end diaper need for all families.”

Diapers are not only critical for those who wear them; they’re also essential for the economic and emotional health of a family as a whole. However, in this country, according to a recent survey by the National Diaper Bank Network, nearly half of families have reported not having enough diapers, and more than a quarter of respondents who reported diaper need said that they skipped meals to pay for more diapers.

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