IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 490 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Diaper Need Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 28, 2017 

Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Mr. ELLISON, and Ms. LEE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 

Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Diaper Need 

Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas diaper need, the lack of a sufficient supply of clean 

diapers to ensure that infants and toddlers remain clean, 

healthy, and dry, can adversely affect the physical, mental, and economic well-being of infants, toddlers, and 

their families; 

Whereas diapers are a material basic need of every infant 

and toddler; 

Whereas an infant requires up to 12 diapers per day, at a 

cost of $70 to $80 per month; 

Whereas national surveys report that one in three mothers 

experience diaper need at some time before their child is 

three years old; 


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2 

•HRES 490 IH 

Whereas additional studies state that diaper need increases 

maternal depression; 

Whereas 48 percent of families delay changing a diaper to extend their supply of diapers, thereby increasing incidents 

of diaper dermatitis, urinary tract infections, and other 

health ailments; 

Whereas there are no government assistance programs that 

help low-wage families and those living in poverty purchase diapers; 

Whereas the poorest 20 percent of Americans that buy diapers spend nearly 14 percent of their after-tax income on 

diapers, which can cause economic hardship for families 

and force many to make impossible choices between food, 

heat, and diapers; 

Whereas most child care centers require parents to provide 

a day’s supply of disposable diapers (approximately four 

to six per child), making diapers necessary for many parents to go to work or school; 

Whereas addressing diaper need in local communities can improve health conditions and economic opportunities for 

infants, toddlers, and their families; 

Whereas in September 2011, the first national statement on 

diaper need was developed and issued to provide consistency in describing the condition and to raise awareness 

of the issue among the general public; 

Whereas the more than 300 nonprofit diaper banks and diaper pantries that are members of the National Diaper 

Bank Network across 46 States distributed over 

52,000,000 donated diapers during 2016, helping ensure 

that more than 278,000 children had the diapers they 

needed; 


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•HRES 490 IH 

Whereas each year, during the month of September, the National Diaper Bank Network and its members hold numerous activities and events to increase public awareness 

of diaper need; and 

Whereas the week of September 25 through October 1, 2017, 

would be an appropriate week to designate as ‘‘National 

Diaper Need Awareness Week’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its gratitude for those who oper3 ate or support diaper banks and diaper distribution 

4 programs in their local communities; 

5 (2) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

6 Diaper Need Awareness Week’’; and 

7 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

8 to address diaper need by donating generously to di9 aper banks, diaper drives, and those organizations 

10 that distribute diapers to families in need. 

Æ 


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