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| PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE: |
| IMPROVING CITIZEN ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT |
| WITH LAUNCH OF NEW WHITE HOUSE WEB SITE |
| July 7, 2000 |
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Today, the White House announced the launching of its newly updated web
site, Welcome to the White House, at www.whitehouse.gov. The new site,
which features a more current design and more user-friendly features than
the previous site, will give users quicker and easier access to the wide
range of on-line information and services provided by the White House.
Today?s announcement builds on the Clinton-Gore Administration?s efforts to
expand public access to on-line government information and services, and
give the American people the "Information Age" government they deserve.
BRINGING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO PEOPLE. Since its debut in October 1994,
?Welcome to the White House? has become one of the most popular sites on
the Internet, providing millions of users worldwide with an array of useful
information about the White House and the federal government. The site,
which receives 1.2 million hits per week, has developed into a valuable
tool for Americans to learn about their government and the issues that
affect their lives. Some of the most popular features of the site include:
? Information on the offices of the President, Vice President, First
Lady, and Mrs. Gore, including how to contact them by phone, mail, or
e-mail;
? The Briefing Room, containing the latest White House press releases
and briefings;
? The Virtual Library, a collection of all documents released by the
White House since the start of the Clinton-Gore Administration;
? Record of Progress, tracking our nation?s prosperity and progress
since
President Clinton and Vice President Gore took office in 1993;
? Gateway to Government, providing citizens with useful government
information in areas such as housing, employment, education and
training, and health, as well as links to White House offices, Cabinet,
and other federal
agencies;
? The White House for Kids, a first-of-its-kind site for children who
want to learn about their federal government;
? The history of the White House, with interesting facts about U.S.
presidents, first ladies, and their families; and
? The latest White House tour schedule, event descriptions, and an
on-line
historical tour of the White House.
IMPROVING ON-LINE ACCESS AND SERVICES. To keep pace with changing
technology and improve public access to government, the White House has
updated its web site and production system with state-of-the-art technology
and a contemporary design. The new site is:
? Easier to use. The new site offers users a clearer, shorter path to
content with
the addition of a standard navigation bar and navigation footer on
each page, making it easier to move from place to place within the
site. Also, users now have the ability to do a keyword search from any
page on the site;
? More accessible. New technology can recognize the type of browser
being used and deliver the web pages to the user in the most
appropriate format for the browser. Also, a text-only option was added
to every page, giving users the choice of whether to view graphics or
just text;
? Equipped with state-of-the-art technology. An automated updating
process will streamline maintenance of the site and give users quicker
access to the most current information;
? Compliant with accessibility and privacy guidelines. The new site is
compliant with the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) Accessibility
Initiative guidelines, which ensure accessibility for users with
disabilities, and includes compliance with P3P (Platform for Privacy
Preferences) privacy guidelines. As has been the case since its
inception, the White House web site does not use cookies or capture
personal information from its users.
The White House Office of Communications will manage the content of the
site, and the Office of Administration?s Information Systems and Technology
division will handle technical support and maintenance. Security is a high
priority, and new security measures are constantly being put in place to
anticipate and address the threat of cyber attacks.
USING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE. President Clinton and
Vice President Gore are committed to using the power of the Internet to
make government work better for the American people. With the Vice
President?s leadership, the Clinton-Gore Administration has expanded the
availability of government information and services to the public,
including the following:
? Making government more accessible. Announced the creation of
FirstGov (www.firstgov.gov), a web site that will give citizens the
ability to
search all on-line resources offered across the federal government
from a single
web site;
? Helping Americans stay healthy. Launched healthfinder (
www.healthfinder.gov), a gateway site on the Internet that provides
Americans
with reliable health information;
? Keeping seniors informed. Unveiled Access America for Seniors (
www.seniors.gov), an Internet site providing a wide range of
information and
services for older Americans;
? Making adoption easier. Announced the launch of a national web site
in
2001 to help break down geographical barriers to adoption by linking
children in
foster care with possible adoptive families;
? Supporting teens. Announced a new gateway site for teenagers (
www.americasteens.gov) offering a wide range of information to help
teens do their homework, pursue a hobby, or choose a career;
? Helping workers prepare for retirement. Unveiled a new Internet
online
retirement planner that allows workers to compute estimates of their
future Social Security retirement benefits so they can better prepare for
their financial future;
? Encouraging citizen participation. Announced a new service called Ask
the White House, a unique opportunity for the public to ask questions
through an Internet news organization about the important policies and
issues that make up the President?s agenda.
BUILDING ON A RECORD OF CREATING DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY. The Clinton-Gore
Administration has improved access to technology and helped create digital
opportunity for more Americans by:
? Working to bridge the digital divide by increasing access to
computers, the
Internet, and high-speed networks in America's underserved urban and
rural
communities;
? Creating the E-rate program, which secures low-cost Internet
connections for
schools, libraries, rural health clinics and hospitals;
? Creating Community Technology Centers to provide computer access and
educational services to low-income urban and rural communities across
the country;
? Creating Neighborhood Network learning centers to help people in
publicly assisted housing learn critical computer skills; and
? Signing electronic signatures legislation which eliminates legal
barriers to
electronic commerce while protecting consumers.
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