Reps. Foushee, Mackenzie Introduce Military Family Diaper Partnership Act

WASHINGTON, DC (February 24, 2026) - Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) introduced the Military Family Diaper Partnership Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish a Military Family Diaper Fund to support military families in need and ensure that children of servicemembers have reliable access to diapers and essential diapering supplies.

"Military families make enormous sacrifices every day, moving to new communities, juggling deployments, and keeping life running at home while their loved ones serve. Caring for young children under these conditions can already be overwhelming, and access to basic necessities like diapers should never be a struggle," said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. "The Military Family Diaper Partnership Act will provide these families with essential support, ensuring parents can focus on their children and their service without worrying about one of life's most fundamental needs."

"Those who serve our country deserve convenient, affordable access to critical family needs," said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. "That's why I previously joined Rep. Foushee in co-leading the Military Family Diaper Assistance Act, and why we're doubling down on that work with the Military Family Diaper Partnership Act. It's time to provide military families with the support that they're counting on to help them grow and thrive."

This legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), the leading organization coordinating the donation and distribution of free diapers and essential supplies across the country. Under this agreement, the Department of Defense would provide $1,000,000 annually from FY2027 to FY2030 to establish the Military Family Diaper Fund. In addition, the NDBN would match these federal funds, bringing the total investment to $8,000,000 over four years to support diaper distribution centers located within a 20-mile radius of military installations.

The fund will ensure that military families have access to the diapers and supplies they need, while also supporting technical assistance and program evaluation provided by NDBN. The organization will submit an annual report to the Secretary of Defense detailing the activities carried out with the funding, providing transparency and accountability for the program's impact.

The Military Family Diaper Partnership Act is endorsed by the Diaper Bank of North Carolina and the National Diaper Bank Network.

"At the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, we know that many military families are quietly struggling to afford basic essentials like diapers. We have distributed more than 836,000 diapers to military households, supporting over 16,700 babies. The Military Family Diaper Partnership Act is a smart public-private partnership that honors service members by ensuring their children have the basic essentials they need to stay healthy, dry, and thriving," said Michelle Schaefer-Old, CEO and Founder of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.

"This legislation is the result of the research and advocacy efforts of NDBN and our member basic needs banks serving military families," said Joanne Samuel Goldblum, CEO and Founder of the National Diaper Bank Network. "The establishment of the Military Diaper Fund is a commonsense approach that will ensure all military families have the basics, like diapers, they require to thrive. We applaud Representatives Foushee and Mackenzie for their leadership and bipartisan approach to addressing diaper insecurity."

This legislation builds on Congresswoman Foushee and Congressman Mackenzie's ongoing efforts to support military families. In November 2025, they introduced the Military Family Diaper Assistance Act, to establish a pilot program connecting community diaper banks with military installations to provide affordable diapers and essential diapering supplies to families in need. The Military Family Diaper Partnership Act expands that work, creating a permanent fund to ensure sustained support for military families across the country.

The full text of the bill can be found here.