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Under the law, 4 percent of all funds must be used to improve the quality of child-care. A summary of Blumenthal's bill indicates that it would allow the purchase of diapers under this provision, as it would "include the provision of diapers and diapering supplies among the activities for which funds may be employed to improve the quality of and access to child care."

The federal program, called the Child Care and Development Fund, received $5 billion in fiscal 2011, which it distributed to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and scores of tribal governments. The program now helps to provide for an estimated 1.8 million children each month.

The program also received an extra $2 billion under the 2009 stimulus bill.

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