Today, the CMF recognized Welch's website as one of the best of 618 websites in the U.S. House and Senate, including committee, leadership, and personal office websites with a "bronze mouse" award.

"We welcome Vermonters to use our website as a virtual office, where they can find answers to their questions or find information they want and need," said Welch.  "It is designed to help Vermonters connect with the constituent services our office provides and the work we are doing in Washington."

Welch was one of the few freshman offices awarded a gold, silver, or bronze "mouse" award for excellence in constituent service on the Internet. 

The CMF is a non-partisan, government agency designed to increase the efficiency and management of congressional offices.  It has tracked congressional use of the Internet since 1998 in order to identify best practices and help congressional offices utilize new technology to communicate with constituents.

The CMF noted, "In our evaluations of all 618 House and Senate Member, committee, and leadership Web sites, the Congressman's Web site has been judged to be among the best."
       
On his website, Vermonters can find information about Welch's priorities, legislation he has sponsored or cosponsored, videos of Welch's floor speeches, e-mail and scheduling request tools, and constituent service resources. 

In recent weeks, the website has highlighted Vermont students nominated by Welch's office to U.S. service academies, information to help Vermonters claim tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service, and information about this year's Capitol Christmas Tree from the Green Mountain National Forest.

The CMF's 2007 Gold Mouse Report can be found online here.