News
Press Releases: Government to Citizen
April 6, 2007
GovBenefits.gov recognized as top program for providing greater access to public services by Harvard University’s Kennedy School
Federal Web site is semifinalist for Innovations in American Government Award
Washington, DC - GovBenefits.gov was among six federal programs recognized this week for providing citizens greater access to important public services. As a semifinalist for the Innovations in American Government Award, the Web site will now compete for a $100,000 grant from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
“GovBenefits.gov offers extensive benefit program information for veterans, seniors, students, teachers, children, people with disabilities, dependents, disaster victims, farmers, caregivers, job seekers, prospective homeowners and more,” said Patrick Pizzella, assistant secretary of labor for administration and management and chief information officer at the U.S. Department of Labor. “The Web site has attracted more than 25 million visitors since it went online in April 2002, increasing citizens’ access to benefit programs and information they may not have known existed.”
GovBenefits.gov, featuring approximately 1,000 federal and state benefit programs, is one of the key initiatives that comprise President Bush’s E-Government strategy, which focuses on making government programs and information more accessible to the public. The Web site expanded in 2004 to include GovLoans.gov, which offers information on federal loans including housing, small business and education. GovBenefits.gov and GovLoans.gov are available in Spanish as well as English.
The Labor Department both manages and contributes to GovBenefits.gov, which is a collaborative effort of 16 federal agencies, also including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Interior, the Department of Justice, the Department of State, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Treasury, the Social Security Administration, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
