Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote (www.wvwv.org):

"Tonight’s passage of the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a much needed boost for not only the American economy generally, but for those who are among the hardest hit by this crisis – unmarried women. This segment of the population turned out to vote in record numbers this past election cycle.

"The economic downturn has had a catastrophic impact on this segment of the population and this package comes at a critical time.

"This package is critical for job creation. Single women – never married – had an unemployment rate of 8.5% in December 2008.  Single women – widowed, divorced, separated – had an unemployment rate of 6.9% in December 2008. In comparison, married women had an unemployment rate of 4.3% in December 2008.

"About 43 percent of single women were using more than 30 percent of their income each month on housing payments, compared to the 30 percent of unmarried men and 25percent of married couples who were spending more than 30 percent.

"Single women have been among the fastest-growing groups of homeowners in recent years.  In Baltimore, single women accounted for 40 percent of home sales in 2006, twice the national average.  Nearly half of these mortgages were subprime, according to the National Community Reinvestment.

"When it comes specifically to jobs, single mothers' unemployment rate rose from 6.7 percent in March 2007 to 7.1 percent in March 2008 – eclipsing the national average.

"More than half of all poor adult women - 54 percent - are single with no dependent children.  Twenty-six percent of poor adult women are single women with dependent children. These people need this package.

"The facts speak for themselves. We applaud the House in passing this Recovery & Reinvestment package, it comes not a moment too soon."

Women's Voices. Women Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization created to activate unmarried women to participate in their government and in our democracy.

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