Statement by Page S. Gardner, president, Women’s Voices, Women Vote, on the vote by the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act

“This vote is a victory for the nation’s women, especially those who are single, separated, widowed or divorced. For the first time in history, a majority of adult women in this country are unmarried, and almost a fifth of these women are single moms, with children living at home. In many ways, they are ‘women on their own,’ supporting themselves and often their children on earnings that are only 56 percent of what married men make.

“With the Paycheck Fairness Act, these ‘women on their own” will finally have a fair chance to be paid what they’re worth and earn their fair share of the American Dream. Now, it’s up to the U.S. Senate to cast a vote that says in no uncertain terms that, here in America, hard work is respected and rewarded, whether the worker is a woman or a man, single or married.”

Women’s Voices, Women Vote is a national, nonpartisan organization that encourages single women to register, vote and fully participate in the democratic process.