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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 21, 2015 03:48 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rosita C. Youngblood |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Recognizing the week of September 28 to October 4, 2015 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. |
| In the near future, I will introduce a resolution recognizing the week of September 28 to October 4, 2015 as "Diaper Need Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. Access to a reliable supply of clean diapers is a necessity for the health and wellbeing of Pennsylvania's children and incontinent adults. Infants and toddlers who are living in households with little or no access to diapers could spend a day or longer in one diaper, leading to significant potential health risks. And, from an economic and educational standpoint, a supply of diapers is usually a requirement for infant and toddlers to attend and participate in childcare programs. For seniors and incontinent adults, the lack of clean disposable undergarments pose a serious health risk that could lead to extended hospital stays and even death. According to 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, there is a growing diaper gap in America – with many families struggling to provide new and clean diapers. In fact, across the country, one in every three mothers finds it difficult to provide diapers for their children, and nearly 5.3 million children under the age of three suffer from diaper need. And for seniors on fixed incomes, incontinence products could cost as much as $1,000 a year. Community organizations across the Commonwealth are doing their part to help with this epidemic by hosting diaper donation drives, which are critical in providing these essential materials to families in need, and raising awareness about the real implications of a widening diaper supply gap. But it is important that we, as lawmakers and community leaders, raise awareness of this issue that impacts so many families across our Commonwealth. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as HR443