2nd Anniversary of Govbenefits.Gov

2ND ANNIVERSARY OF GOVBENEFITS.GOV -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 27, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM
OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2004

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, on April 29, 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor will celebrate the second anniversary of GovBenefits.gov. Additionally, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor will launch the GovLoans.gov website as an integrated part of GovBenefits.gov. GovLoans.gov will be a one-stop shop for Federal loan programs.

I want to recognize the successful interagency collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education to improve the American public's access to their government through the launch of GovLoans.gov. I would also like to congratulate and recognize the U.S. Department of Labor for consistently demonstrating GovBenefits.gov as a leading government-to-citizen initiative that is offering tremendous value to the American public
GovBenefits.gov is a prime example of what e-Government should look and act like. In working together with nearly a dozen other agencies, the Department of Labor has launched this one stop shop for individuals interested in learning what government benefits for which they may be eligible.

GovLoans.gov will provide a broad range of information on Federal loan programs, as well as educational tools and resources to help citizens and small business owners understand the loan process. This site will also help consumers find the loan that best fits their individual needs, and will serve as a trusted and comprehensive point of access to Federal loan information.

GovLoans.gov is a Presidential initiative managed by the U.S. Department of Education that will provide citizens and small business owners with comprehensive information on available Federal loan programs from the five major Federal credit agencies: the U.S. Departments of Education, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration.

GovLoans.gov consolidates loan programs across government into a single portal and simplifies the language describing each program, enabling citizens and small business owners to easily find applicable Federal loans that meet their needs and to better understand the loan process.

GovBenefits.gov represents a partnership of 10 Federal agencies, including the U.S Department of Labor (managing partner), and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, State, Veteran Affairs, and the Social Security Administration.

Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental
Relations and the Census, I commend the U.S. Department of Labor for its work in developing GovBenefits.gov as a leading government-to-citizen initiative that is offering tremendous value to the American public and recognize GovBenefits.gov and GovLoans.gov as citizen-centric initiatives that are demonstrating the intent of the President's Management Agenda.