July 8, 2002
Access to 30 More Government Programs Now Available to U.S. Citizens on Website
The Department of Labor and the Office of Management and Budget announced a significant expansion of www.GovBenefits.gov, a website designed to make it easier for citizens to interact with government, the Labor Department said in a press release.

The release also said: "With additional access to 30 more programs, citizens will now have one-stop access to the information and services of 85 programs, which deliver nearly $1.05 trillion dollars worth of government services, including benefits from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, administered by the Department of Justice.

"We are very proud of the tremendous response GovBenefits has received from the public. Over 13,000 citizens visit the site everyday, and enjoy direct access to the information they need about government programs to help them when they need it most," said D. Cameron Findlay, deputy secretary of the Department of Labor. "The 30 new programs that have been added to the site this month demonstrate our continued commitment to reducing the confusion of government bureaucracy." Other newly added programs include the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Very Low to Moderate Rural Housing Loans; Department of Housing and Urban Development's Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance; Health and Human Services' Services for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS; the Labor Department's Employment and Training Assistance; the Veterans Administration's Veterans Disability Compensation; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Housing Program. For a full list of programs, visit www.govbenefits.gov.

"The President's E-Government initiative is all about promoting efficiency and eliminating red tape, making government more responsive and citizen-centered," stated Mark Forman, associate director for information technology and electronic government at OMB, "Today we bring the services of 30 more government programs to the fingertips of Americans most in need, including America's veterans, its seniors, its youth and those victimized by the tragedy of September 11th."

Prior to its expansion, GovBenefits has afforded citizen access to the information and services of 55 programs since its launch in April of 2002. USA Today named the site to its list of "Hot Sites" stating, "GovBenefits gives you an easy way to see if there are funds, training or other benefits available for you."

"Expanding E-Government is one of the goals President Bush set for his Administration, and we are dedicated to making it happen," said Patrick Pizzella, assistant secretary for administration and management and chief information officer at the Department of Labor. "As we continue to expand GovBenefits each month, we are ensuring that citizens are given unprecedented access to the help they need."

GovBenefits is the government website that will serve as a single, online source for information on government benefits. The site is the collaborative effort of 10 Federal agencies including:
Department of Labor (managing partner)
United States Department of Agriculture
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of State
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Social Security Administration

With an easy-to-use, online screening tool that asks basic questions about income, marital or employment status, and family size, GovBenefits helps citizens assess their eligibility for government services. Informed, they may more quickly and easily apply for and receive the services they truly need.

GovBenefits is one of 24 key initiatives that comprise the President's E-Government Strategy, an integral part of the President's Management Agenda. Released by the Office of Management and Budget and guided by the President's Management Council, 24 high-payoff, government-wide E-Government initiatives were identified to integrate agency operations and information technology investments. These initiatives will eliminate redundant systems and significantly improve the government's quality of service for citizens and businesses.

------ U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202-693-7773 or TTY 202-693-7755.