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OPA News Release: [04/29/2004]
Contact Name: Peggy Abrahamson
Phone Number: (202) 693-5052

Labor Department Announces Expansion of GovBenefits.gov

Award-Winning Website Features en Español Version and More State Program Information

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today celebrated the second anniversary of its groundbreaking government-to-citizen e-Gov initiative, GovBenefits.gov, at an event featuring Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven J. Law and Congressman Adam Putnam, R-FL. The event demonstrated the effectiveness of this award-winning website for the American public, including the debut of GovBenefits.gov En Español and expanded state program information.

GovBenefits.gov En Español offers Spanish-speaking communities greater access to available federal and state benefits. Through expanded state information, GovBenefits.gov will offer Americans a broader gateway to state benefits and allow local community-based organizations to better assess eligibility for administered programs.

“GovBenefits.gov succeeds because it offers customized outreach to our diverse American population. Americans have never before had such a citizen-centered one-stop shop,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven J. Law. “The website captures each visitor’s unique needs, helps them sort out the variety of available federal and state assistance and puts this information at their fingertips,” he said.

Since the site was launched in April 2002, GovBenefits.gov has provided government benefit eligibility information to more than 11 million visitors, and generated more than 1.8 million citizen referrals to benefit programs tailored to their needs. More than 500 federal and state assistance programs now participate on the website, earning it an Excellence.gov Award from the Industry Advisory Council and a Gracie Award for Excellence in Government Technology from Government Executive Magazine among many other awards.

GovBenefits.gov is one of 24 key initiatives that comprise the President’s e-Government Strategy, which focuses on creating a more accessible government. GovBenefits.gov is the collaborative effort of 10 federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Labor (managing partner), Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, State, Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration.

Visit www.govbenefits.gov to learn first-hand how the U.S. Department of Labor is redefining citizens’ access to benefit information.

Media Availability: Pat Pizzella, Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management or a GovBenefits website expert are available for interviews. Please call 202-693-5052 to schedule an interview.

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Versión en español

An online audio news release is available for this announcement.

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