ladileathrnek
03-05-03, 02:56 PM
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Veterans' Committee Web Site Honored as "One of the Very Best" in Congress
Panel of Experts Praises Redesigned Web Site as a"Content-Driven and Content-Rich Site"
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Web site
(http://veterans.house.gov) has been honored by the Congress Online Project as one of the very best Web sites among all 610 congressional Web sites reviewed. In a comprehensive report issued this week, the Committee Web site received a grade of "A", making it one of 26 sites to receive a "Silver Mouse Award."
In the report "Congress Online 2003" (www.congressonlineproject.org), the Veterans' Affairs Committee Web site was cited as, "a user-friendly Web site filled with information about veterans' benefits and offering key services online. This content-driven and content-rich site serves veterans, Members, and staff alike."
"Last year, we set out to redesign our site in a manner that provided comprehensive and timely information targeted to our core audience of veterans, veterans' organizations, Members of Congress and other agencies involved in veterans issues," said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. "It is gratifying to see our efforts have been successful as recognized by an independent panel of experts," he said.
The Committee's Web site contains over 2,200 pages of information about the activities of the Committee and detailed information about veterans' issues, legislation, benefits, and news. The Web site also acts as a portal for other Web sites of interest to veterans. In order to improve its usability, a new navigation system was developed last year that puts the most sought after information within one or two click access of the homepage.
"One of the primary functions of our Committee is to act as a bridge from Congress to America's 25 million veterans," said Chairman Smith. "Our Web site has become a key component in facilitating communication between persons, agencies, and organizations working to improve the delivery of benefits and services to our veterans," Smith said.
The Congress Online Project is a two-year (2001 - 2002) program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and conducted jointly by the George Washington University and the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) to examine the use of Web sites and other forms of online communications by congressional offices. After rigorously reviewing all 610 Member, standing committee, and leadership office Web sites, they awarded 16 "Gold Mouse Awards", 26 "Silver Mouse Awards" and 33 "Bronze Mouse Awards" this week.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Please visit http://veterans.house.gov, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs web site, named 'One of the Best Web Sites in Congress' by the Congressional Management Foundation, May 3, 1999.
Veterans' Committee Web Site Honored as "One of the Very Best" in Congress
Panel of Experts Praises Redesigned Web Site as a"Content-Driven and Content-Rich Site"
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Web site
(http://veterans.house.gov) has been honored by the Congress Online Project as one of the very best Web sites among all 610 congressional Web sites reviewed. In a comprehensive report issued this week, the Committee Web site received a grade of "A", making it one of 26 sites to receive a "Silver Mouse Award."
In the report "Congress Online 2003" (www.congressonlineproject.org), the Veterans' Affairs Committee Web site was cited as, "a user-friendly Web site filled with information about veterans' benefits and offering key services online. This content-driven and content-rich site serves veterans, Members, and staff alike."
"Last year, we set out to redesign our site in a manner that provided comprehensive and timely information targeted to our core audience of veterans, veterans' organizations, Members of Congress and other agencies involved in veterans issues," said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. "It is gratifying to see our efforts have been successful as recognized by an independent panel of experts," he said.
The Committee's Web site contains over 2,200 pages of information about the activities of the Committee and detailed information about veterans' issues, legislation, benefits, and news. The Web site also acts as a portal for other Web sites of interest to veterans. In order to improve its usability, a new navigation system was developed last year that puts the most sought after information within one or two click access of the homepage.
"One of the primary functions of our Committee is to act as a bridge from Congress to America's 25 million veterans," said Chairman Smith. "Our Web site has become a key component in facilitating communication between persons, agencies, and organizations working to improve the delivery of benefits and services to our veterans," Smith said.
The Congress Online Project is a two-year (2001 - 2002) program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and conducted jointly by the George Washington University and the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) to examine the use of Web sites and other forms of online communications by congressional offices. After rigorously reviewing all 610 Member, standing committee, and leadership office Web sites, they awarded 16 "Gold Mouse Awards", 26 "Silver Mouse Awards" and 33 "Bronze Mouse Awards" this week.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Please visit http://veterans.house.gov, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs web site, named 'One of the Best Web Sites in Congress' by the Congressional Management Foundation, May 3, 1999.