Statement by Page S. Gardner, president, Women’s Voices. Women Vote Action Fund, on the vote by the U.S. Senate in favor of State Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation:

“Today the U.S. Senate passed State Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation, preserving access to healthcare of low-income families. I commend the Senators who support this legislation, providing services critical to women who are single, separated, divorced or widowed. Women on their own are the fastest growing large demographic in our country and nearly a fifth of whom are single moms, with children living at home.

“Unmarried women are 53 million strong, making them half of all women in our country. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is vital to this growing demographic, as 22 percent of these women on their own live below the poverty line. One in five unmarried women in our country does not have private health insurance and 28 percent of unmarried women rely on Medicare, compared to just 20 percent of married Americans. At a time when half of all children under six years old are living in a household with a single mother and are living in poverty, the U.S. Senates passage of SCHIP today is essentially a vote to strengthen American through keeping our mothers and children healthy.

The Women’s Voices. Women Vote Action Fund informs and mobilizes unmarried women to participate in our government and make their voices heard in our democracy. Women’s Voices. Women Vote Action Fund is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization. Visit our website at www.wvwvaf.org