[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 27, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   2ND ANNIVERSARY OF GOVBENEFITS.GOV

                                 ______
                                 

                          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.

                          ____________________