In support of President Barack Obama's Transparency and Open Government initiative, Social Security has launched a new Open Government webpage.

The new webpage serves as the portal for all agency activities that support the President's Transparency and Open Government initiative. It's open for the public at www.socialsecurity.gov/open.

"Our new Open Government webpage gives Americans an opportunity to give us their ideas on how we can become a more open and transparent agency," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "They will be able to post their ideas on transparency, participation, collaboration, and innovation that should be included in our Open Government Plan. I encourage everyone to visit our webpage and submit their ideas, read and discuss what has been posted, and vote on the ideas that have been submitted."

Anyone is welcome to submit ideas. To send us yours, click on the link at the top right of the webpage that says, "Share your ideas on our open government plan." After agreeing to the terms of participation, the link will take you to a webpage that asks for ideas on how Social Security can:

• work better with others inside and outside the government;
• solicit feedback from the public;
• improve the availability and quality of information;
• be more innovative and efficient; and
• create an Open Government Plan.

Social Security's new Open Government webpage also provides easy access to important agency information such as the Agency Strategic Plan, Freedom of Information Act Report, as well as program laws and regulations. The webpage includes links to the datasets that were recently published on www.Data.gov. The agency will publish its Open Government Plan in April.

Join our "online open house" at www.socialsecurity.gov/open.

Ginny Jordan is a Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. Her weekly column on all things Social Security appears in the Sunday Edition of the Sun-Sentinel.

Ginny has agreed to let us reprint her articles here for your convenience.

Thank you Ginny!