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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.
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