search
Sections List
American Journal News

Diapers and daycare: How lawmakers are trying to help parents through the pandemic

‘The pandemic made a bad situation worse, with women and people of color paying the price.’

By Amy Lieu - February 11, 2021
Share
Infant, parent

Lawmakers are taking active steps to ensure parents are getting the help they need amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest effort comes from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who is spearheading the End Diaper Need Act of 2021 to assist low-income families unable to afford necessary items for their infants.

The bill, introduced on Monday, would provide $200 million for struggling families to buy diapers and other supplies through the Social Service Block Grant Program starting in 2022. Through Medicaid, the bill would also provide “medically complex children” with “200 medically necessary diapers per month,” according to a press release.

The legislation will “address the increased burden” of “maintaining the health and hygiene of infants and toddlers.”

Importantly, the bill would also “make medically necessary diapers and diapering qualified medical expenses so that families can purchase them using their [health savings accounts] or [health reimbursement accounts].”

As HuffPost noted, “Currently, government programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children do not cover the cost of diapers” and they are “not considered reimbursable for some health spending accounts.”

Duckworth said in a statement, “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.”

Indeed, diapers have become increasingly difficult for low-income families to afford. The National Diaper Bank Network noted that infants need as many as 12 diapers per day, while toddlers need about eight diapers daily — that averages to approximately $80 a month per child.

Joanne Goldblum, the group’s CEO, said the legislation is “critically needed.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and exacerbated the issue of diaper need in America. Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 3 families struggled to get enough diapers to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy. During the pandemic, those numbers have skyrocketed,” Goldblum said.

She continued, “[E]ven in the months ahead … diaper need will remain unacceptable[ly] high without any intervention, keeping parents out of the workforce, jeopardizing infant health, and preventing families from thriving.”

In another effort to aid struggling parents, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and the Democratic Women’s Caucus led 54 lawmakers in penning a letter last Tuesday to President Joe Biden calling for child-care related funds to be included in his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

“We urge you to include $100 billion in reconciliation packages to not only stabilize child care for families and early educators, but also lay the groundwork for moving toward universal child care and early learning,” the lawmakers wrote.

The funds would provide families with child care and supplement early childhood educators’ low wages.

“[E]ven before the pandemic, a child care crisis was unfolding across our nation, making the sector vulnerable to collapse. Child care was unaffordable, costing more than in-state college tuition in half of states and eating up 35 percent of income for low-wage families,” the letter noted.

Furthermore, child care workers are paid an average of $29,900 per year and are forced to rely “on public benefits for basic needs,” the lawmakers pointed out, noting that “the pandemic made a bad situation worse, with women and people of color paying the price.”

Black and Latina women make up nearly 40% of child care workers, while “17 percent are immigrants,” they added.

Caregiving responsibilities were just one of the reasons 2 million more women left the labor force since the start of the pandemic, the lawmakers said, citing a study that said the economy is at risk of falling $64.5 billion more into debt per year “in women’s lost wages and economic activity” if no further action is taken.

The lawmakers’ efforts are part of a larger push by Democrats to assist vulnerable communities hit particularly hard by the pandemic.

Democrats, along with Biden, aim to pass larger direct payments of $1,400 to some Americans. The president previously called the last round of $600 relief checks passed under the prior administration a “down payment.”

In January, House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the Raise the Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage from $9.50 to $15 an hour by 2025. A Congressional Budget Office study released Monday found that 17 million American workers — about 10% of laborers — would benefit from such an increase and approximately 900,000 people would be lifted out of poverty.

Democrats are also proposing an expanded child tax credit, which could lift 4.1 million children out of poverty and cut the child poverty rate down by over 40%, according to Chuck Marr, senior director of federal tax policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

According to the budget center, the full child tax credit would particularly benefit communities of color, hit excessively hard by the pandemic, lifting “1 million Black, 1 million Latino, 850,000 non-Hispanic white, 120,000 Asian and Pacific Islander, and 70,000 Native American individuals, including children” out of poverty.

“This is historic. This is a major, major change. It’s been decades building up to this point,” Marr said. “This is the reason why people are so excited.”

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
How many will lose health insurance under the Republican bill? The CBO says 13.7 million.

How many will lose health insurance under the Republican bill? The CBO says 13.7 million.

By Jesse Valentine - May 23, 2025
Rep. Bresnahan sold shares in PA companies ahead of market drop

Rep. Bresnahan sold shares in PA companies ahead of market drop

By Jesse Valentine - May 21, 2025
Senate Republicans confirm convicted felon as U.S. ambassador

Senate Republicans confirm convicted felon as U.S. ambassador

By Jesse Valentine - May 20, 2025
Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law

Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law

By Bonnie Fuller - May 16, 2025
It’s not just Medicaid—House Republicans want to cut food stamps too

It’s not just Medicaid—House Republicans want to cut food stamps too

By Jesse Valentine - May 15, 2025
Disability advocates arrested protesting GOP Medicaid cuts

Disability advocates arrested protesting GOP Medicaid cuts

By Jesse Valentine - May 14, 2025
Republican Bill Huizenga cheers power plant funds he tried to block

Republican Bill Huizenga cheers power plant funds he tried to block

By Jesse Valentine - May 12, 2025
Jack Ciattarelli called harmful tariffs a “grand experiment”

Jack Ciattarelli called harmful tariffs a “grand experiment”

By Jesse Valentine - May 09, 2025
Paul LePage, a Medicaid critic, launches congressional bid in Maine

Paul LePage, a Medicaid critic, launches congressional bid in Maine

By Jesse Valentine - May 06, 2025
Earle-Sears ignored trans issues in office—now she uses them as a wedge

Earle-Sears ignored trans issues in office—now she uses them as a wedge

By Jesse Valentine - May 05, 2025
Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog

Trump effectively shuts down campaign finance watchdog

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2025
Ciattarelli wants a DOGE-style commission to crack down on New Jersey Medicaid recipients

Ciattarelli wants a DOGE-style commission to crack down on New Jersey Medicaid recipients

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2025
House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

By Jesse Valentine - April 24, 2025
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025