Families struggling to afford diapers for their babies, or incontinence supplies for a loved one with a disability, would get help through a new federal grant program. The End Diaper Need Act channels $200 million a year from 2026 through 2029 to states through the Social Services Block Grant, which would then distribute the money to diaper banks and nonprofits for free diaper distribution. The bill also makes medically necessary diapers and diapering supplies eligible expenses for Health Savings Accounts and flexible spending accounts. Low-income families — defined here as those earning up to 200% of the federal poverty line — with children age 3 and under, medically complex children, and adults with disabilities would be the primary beneficiaries.
Congressional Summary
End Diaper Need Act of 2025This bill establishes and expands programs to provide low-income families and other vulnerable groups with access to diapers and related supplies.Specifically, it provides additional funding for FY2026-FY2029 to meet the diapering needs of certain low-income families and adults through the Social Services Block Grant Program. This grant program provides a flexible funding stream to states and territories to support social services for vulnerable children, adults, and families.The bill exempts these funds for diapering needs from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, across-the-board reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.The bill requires these funds to be used to meet the diapering needs oflow-income families with one or more infants, toddlers, or medically complex children (i.e., children who are age three or older and diagnosed with a serious condition such as bowel or bladder incontinence); andlow-income families with adults, or children or adults with disabilities, who rely on diapers and other adult incontinence materials.The bill also allows individuals to buy medically necessary diapers and related supplies with funds from health savings accounts and other tax-advantaged accounts for health care expenses.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-05-20
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30