E-Gov initiatives on display

Pen and paper were replaced by mouse and pad at the E-Gov 2000 trade show in Washington this week.

When the Army goes to war, each command takes a predefined set of medical supplies called an assemblage. And until a few years ago, soldiers tracking these supplies used World War II-era methods: pencil and paper. But now, as part of the e-invention of government, a new prototype system is bringing assemblage re-supply into the 21st century.

The system will track what medical supplies have been used and re-supply each command automatically. The Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support Assemblage Management System was just one e-government application on display at E-Gov 2000.

The Bureau of the Public Debt showcased a Web site allowing citizens to engage in auctions of U.S. Treasury securities-Treasury bills, notes and bonds. Citizens can also make online purchases at the TreasuryDirect site.

The Social Security Administration displayed Access America for Seniors, one of a series of sites dedicated to serving a specific population and helping them locate vital government services.

Another Web site devoted to improving the quality of life for a specific citizen segment, the Navy's LIFELines Quality of Life initiative, attempts to help far-flung sailors, marines and their families feel more at home during long deployments or while on assignment in foreign countries.

And finally, the Treasury Department previewed a pilot project designed to enable citizens who pay their taxes electronically to conduct their transactions online.