WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this week, Representative Xavier Becerra’s (CA-31) Web site was honored by the Congressional Management Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan consulting and research organization, for being one of the best in Congress. Becerra.House.Gov was among the 618 Web sites critically and thoroughly evaluated in “The 2007 Gold Mouse Report: Recognizing the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill.”

“Congressman Becerra’s site is at the forefront of Web-specific offerings,” the report states on page 63. “Combining extensive content with many different ways to absorb it, the site allows users to access the information and content on their own terms.”

Rep. Becerra’s Web site was one of 36 winning the top Gold Award, while 34 won Silver, and 34 won Bronze Mouse Awards. This is Rep. Becerra’s second Gold Mouse Award in as many years.

“I am delighted to learn that my Web site continues to lead the way in harnessing the power of the Internet to better assist and communicate with my constituents,” Rep. Becerra said. “I believe it is essential that the people of my district have an open line of communication to me as I continue my work for them in Congress.”

CMF graded Web sites on how well they incorporate five basic building blocks, which extensive research identified as critical for effectiveness: audience, content, usability, interactivity, and innovation. Using these building blocks, an evaluation framework was developed by CMF and their research partners at Harvard University, Ohio State, and the University of California-Riverside that would be fair and objective while still taking into account important qualitative factors that affect a visitor's experience on a Web site.  
 
“Congressman Becerra’s Web site shows that he understands the value of creating a virtual office to reach specific audiences who have come to expect having their needs met online,” CMF Executive Director Beverly Bell said.

A full copy of the report, the 2007 Gold Mouse Report: Recognizing the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill, is available on the Congressional Management Foundation’s Web site at www.cmfweb.org.