Pennsylvania HR 230: A Resolution designating the week of September 15 through 21, 2025, as "Diaper Need Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1626
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 230
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HILL-EVANS, T. DAVIS, MULLINS, PASHINSKI, FREEMAN,
KHAN, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GALLAGHER,
D. WILLIAMS, MAYES, NEILSON AND O'MARA, MAY 6, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 6, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of September 15 through 21, 2025, as
"Diaper Need Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "Diaper Need Awareness Week" brings attention to the
insufficient supply of disposable diapers for children and
incontinent adults of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The National Diaper Bank Network, a national
nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every baby in
the United States can be clean, healthy and dry, reports that
one in two families suffers from diaper need; and
WHEREAS, Access to a reliable supply of clean diapers is a
necessity for the health and well-being of infants and toddlers,
incontinent adults, their families, child-care providers and
health care providers; and
WHEREAS, Children and incontinent adults who are living in
households with little or no access to diapers could develop
significant potential health risks such as severe diaper rash
and bacterial and yeast infections; and
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WHEREAS, Most public resources, such as food stamps, the
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and Medicare, do not
cover the cost of these necessary items; and
WHEREAS, Estimates show that disposable diapers cost as much
as $100 per child per month and incontinence products can cost
as much as $1,000 per year; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 46% of families suffering from diaper
needs have reported cutting down on other expenditures,
including food and utilities, to afford diapers; and
WHEREAS, Infants or toddlers can require up to 84 diaper
changes per week over three years; and
WHEREAS, A supply of diapers is usually a requirement for
infants and toddlers to attend and participate in child-care
programs, which studies linked to higher education levels; and
WHEREAS, One in four parents miss work or school because they
cannot afford diapers required for their infants and toddlers to
participate in child-care programs, which has a negative impact
on the economy; and
WHEREAS, Families living in poverty often do not have access
to personal washing machines, and most coin-operated laundromats
do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers for sanitary
reasons; and
WHEREAS, Community organizations across this Commonwealth are
doing their part to help with this epidemic by hosting diaper
donation drives, which are critical in providing these essential
materials to working families and incontinent adults in need,
and raising awareness about the real implications of a widening
diaper supply gap; and
WHEREAS, The National Diaper Bank Network is committed to
working with community groups and raising awareness of the
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diaper gap in America by building the capacity of community-
based diaper banks to serve families throughout this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, There are more than 240 diaper banks recognized by
the National Diaper Bank Network, distributing more than 150
million diapers annually; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has 10 diaper banks that are
recognized and are active members of the National Diaper Bank
Network, distributing more than 12 million diapers per year to
communities across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, These diaper banks require community support and
donations of diapers and money to allow them to continue to
serve our communities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of September 15 through 21, 2025, as "Diaper Need Awareness
Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
efforts of Pennsylvania's 10 diaper banks, the National Diaper
Bank Network and all community organizations working to address
the diaper gap in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
residents of this Commonwealth to support community
organizations and participate in diaper drives to help improve,
enhance and expand access to diapers for our Commonwealth's
children and incontinent adults.
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