ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN'S AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 30

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 05, 2025

      The Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Joint Resolution No. 30.

      This joint resolution designates June 23 of each year as “International Widows’ Day.” 

According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 260 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty.  In the United States, one million women become widowed each year.  Seventy percent of all married women will be widowed in their lifetime.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the median age of a widow is 59.

     Widows are often unsupported by social services, programs, and policies.  Many widows face challenges after the loss of a loved one, including financial and legal difficulties, mental and physical health issues, and the loss of health insurance.  It is important to draw attention to the experiences and realities of widows in the United States, including the need for increased bereavement leave and changes to Social Security regulations regarding widows, as well as the plight of widows in other countries.

      As reported by the committee, Senate Joint Resolution No. 30 is identical to Assembly Joint Resolution No. 45, which was also reported by the committee on this date.