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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Third Of U.S. Families Struggle To Afford Diapers. This Bill Aims To Change That.
Huffington Post
By Alanna Vagianos
In the United States, 1 in 3 families struggle to provide enough diapers for their children ― often forcing them to choose between food and the vital child care item. Sometimes, it even keeps families from sending their kids to day care. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced a new bipartisan bill on Monday that aims to ensure every family can afford diapers.
The End Diaper Need Act of 2021, shared first with HuffPost, will assist low-income families that arent able to afford diapers for their babies or toddlers. For these families, the inability to access diapers can be a significant burden on their physical, mental and economic well-being. Infants use up to 12 diapers a day and toddlers use around eight diapers a day, averaging a cost of around $80 a month, according to the National Diaper Network.
In the middle of a global public health crisis ― with so many families struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads ― the last thing parents should have to worry about is being able to buy diapers that are essential to the health and well-being of their children, Duckworth told HuffPost. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) are co-leads on the bill alongside Duckworth.
The bill will use three approaches to address the diaper need in minority and low-income communities around the country. First, the End Diaper Need Act will give $200 million to social services every year between 2022 and 2025, which will go toward diapers and other diaper supplies. The bill will also fund 200 medically necessary diapers per month for medically complex children through Medicaid. Lastly, the act will define diapers and diaper supplies as qualified medical expenses so that families can purchase them through their health savings accounts or health reimbursement accounts.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/families-struggle-afford-diapers-bill_n_602164f2c5b6173dd2f83db5
librechik
(30,663 posts)very much needed!
OneGrassRoot
(22,917 posts)Why dont they make it an allowable purchase under EBT/SNAP - and increase those benefits - rather than make it another hoop to jump through?
What am I missing?