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AP WASHINGTON DAYBOOK, Wednesday, March 26
GENERAL
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March 20 - April 13. NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL — National Cherry Blossom Festival. http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
March 22 - 28. VETERAN SUICIDE — On the 11th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) announced it will converge on Washington March 22-28 to introduce IAVAs 2014 Policy Agenda and demand action on its top issue: combating veteran suicide. Background: The VA estimates that 22 veterans die by suicide each day. In IAVAs 2014 Member Policy Survey, over 47 percent of our respondents said they knew a veteran who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan who had attempted suicide. http://stormthehill.org/?org=403&lvl=100&ite=8839&lea=2843906&ctr=0&par=1
Contacts: Gretchen Andersen press@iava.org (212-982-9699)
March 23 - 26. AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY — Holds its 2014 Washington DC Conference. https://www.alaforveterans.org/Meetings/Washington-DC-Conference/
Location: Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW.
March 24 - 26. AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION — Holds its Stars of Life Celebration. http://www.the-aaa.org/default.asp?contentID=39
Location: Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Ave. NW.
Contacts: Kristy Cartier, kcartier@the-aaa.org, 703-389-1029
March 24 - 26. NASA RECENTLY RETURNED ASTRONAUTS — Two astronauts recently returned from the International Space Station will be in Washington for a series of events, which are open to the media, March 24-26.
Highlights:
12:30 p.m. Nyberg will provide remarks at the outset of NASAs Asteroid Initiative Opportunities Forum. The forum will be carried live on NASA TV and streamed online for virtual participants. To register, or for more information on how to view the event, go to: http://socialforms.nasa.gov/asteroidforum Reporters interested in covering the NASA Social or the Asteroid Initiative events in person should contact Joshua Buck at 202-358-1100 or jbuck@nasa.gov.
5:30 p.m. Nyberg and Parmitano will give a presentation about their mission and answer questions from the audience at the University of Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences. The event will be held in room 1101 of the Biosciences Research Building (BRB/413). The event will not air on NASA TV. Reporters interested in covering the event in person should contact Abby Robinson at 301-405-5845 or abbyr@umd.edu
On the Net: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nyberg-kl.html
March 25 - 26. NACD SPRING FLY IN — NACD is hosting its 2014 Spring Fly-In March 25 and 26 in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, attendees will hear insight from federal agency representatives on Farm Bill implementation and attend a reception in the House Agriculture Committee Room with Members of Congress and staff. On Wednesday, members will visit with their Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill to discuss conservation policy priorities.
On the Net: http://www.nacdnet.org/events/nacd-spring-fly-in
Notes: NOTE: Valid media credentials are required. Please RSVP to Bethany Shively at Bethany-shively@nacdnet.org or call (202) 547-6223.
March 25 - 26. NTSB - CRUISE SHIP SAFETY — The National Transportation Safety Board today announced it will hold a public forum on cruise ship safety and oversight -Cruise Ships: Examining Safety, Operations and Oversight. http://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/2014/cruiseshipforum/index.html.
Contacts: Eric M. Weiss eric.weiss@ntsb.gov ((202) 314-6100)
On the Net: http://www.ntsb.gov
Notes: Agenda: www.ntsb.gov/cruiseshipforum
March 25 - 26. WORKSHOP ON PLASMA FOR CANCER TREATMENT — The George Washington University to Host "First" International Workshop on Plasma for Cancer Treatment. David Dolling, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Leo Chalupa, vice president for research, will make remarks. Oktay Baysal, dean of ODUs Batten College of Engineering and Technology, will also give a welcome address. http://www.iwpct2014.org/program RSVP: Media interested in attending should contact Kurtis Hiatt at kkhiatt@gwu.edu or 202-994-1849.
Location: The George Washington University, Cloyd Heck Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom (third floor), 800 21st St. NW.
Contacts: Kurtis Hiatt kkhiatt@gwu.edu (202-994-1849)
March 25 - 27. USHCC 2014 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT — The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce holds their 24th Annual Legislative Summit. Speakers will include: Senator John cornyn, R-TX; Representative Xavier Becerra; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, R-FL; Mickey Ibarra, director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Reince Priebus, Chairman, Republican National Committee; Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI; Senator John McCain; R-AZ; Senator Mary Landrieu, D-LA; Martin O'Malley, Governor of MD; Rep. Jeff Denham, CA; Rep. Tony Cardenas, CA; others.http://www.ushcclegislative.com/
Highlights:
7:30 a.m. Breakfast on the Hill. Republican leaders in the House will highlight their work to promote an environment "that is friendly to Hispanic small business owners." Featured Speakers: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI); Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Chairman Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Reince Preibus, RNC Chairman. Location: HC-5. Press who wish to cover this event should RSVP to Vicki Ballagh at vicki@theinciteagency.com with name, outlet, phone number and email address.
Location: Capital Hilton, 16th and K Sts. NW.
March 25 - 28. GET YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE — the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) will be joining other cities around the nation to help Googles "Get Your Business Online Week. A series of free, live streamed workshops will be offered in partnership with Google. DSLBD will be streaming live feed for the workshops on DLSBDs website at www.dslbd.dc.gov March 25-28th and offering two free in person screenings Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26.
Contacts: Dian Herrman dian.herrman2@dc.gov (202-727-0860)
March 26 - 27. ITI TECH SHOWCASE AND SYMPOSIUM — Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) Tech Showcase and Symposium. Contact: Elleni Almandrez, Elleni@WeissPublicAffairs.com, 202-492-6622 OR Amy Weiss, Amy@WeissPublicAffairs.com, 202-203-0448
Highlights:
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Innovation Symposium. Location: The Newseum: Knight Studio--555 Pennsylvania Ave NW. 8:30-9:30 Expanding Access to Innovation Around the World with Participants: ; Wendy Cutler, Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Kevin Brady, U.S. Representative (R-TX); Rob Atkinson, Founder and President, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Karen Appleton, Senior Vice President, Global Alliances at Box. Moderator: Sanford Reback, Senior Technology Analyst, Bloomberg Government. 9:45a-10:45a Securing the Jobs of Tomorrow with Participants: Jason Chaffetz, U.S. Representative (R-UT); Suzan DelBene, U.S. Representative (D-WA); Jon Phillips, Managing Director, Worldwide Education, Dell Corporation; Edward B. Montgomery, Dean, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University. Moderator: Bob Litan, Director of Research, Bloomberg Government. 11:00 - 12 p.m. - The New Mobile Platform with Sandy Lobenstein, Vice President of Connected Vehicle Technology, Toyota; John Godfrey, Vice President of Communications and Regulatory Policy, Samsung. Moderator: Nela Richardson, Senior Economist, Bloomberg Government.
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Innovation Showcase & Reception. Location: Long View Gallery--234 9th St NW.
On the Net: http://www.itic.org/
Notes: Media must RSVP to Elleni Almandrez at Elleni@weisspublicaffairs.com. Please indicate which event you will be attending.
March 26 - 27. NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS FEDERAL CONTRACTING WEEK — 10th Annual National Small Business Federal Contracting Week - DC Summit presented jointly by the National Association of Small Business Contractors (the Supplier Council of The American Small Business Chamber of Commerce) and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. http://www.americansbcc.org/contracting-week-summit
Location: Embassy Suites, Washington, DC, 900 10th Street, NW.
March 26 - 28. ABA - ANTITRUST SPRING MEETING — The American Bar Association holds its 62nd Antitrust Law Spring Meeting. http://www.americanbar.org/calendar/2014/03/antitrust\_law\_2014springmeeting62.html
Highlights:
9 a.m. Deputy Assistant Attorneys General for the Antitrust Division Renata B. Hesse, Leslie C. Overton, David Gelfand, Aviv Nevo and Brent Snyder will participate in a panel entitled, "Agency Update with the Deputy Assistant Attorneys General."
Location: J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Contacts: Alisha Cybulski, alisha.cybulski@americanbar.or, 202-662-1097
March 26 - 28. U.S.- CHINA SISTER CITIES CONFERENCE — The 2014 US-China Sister Cities Conference will connect business leaders, government officials, and citizen diplomats from the U.S. and China on strengthening exchanges and business engagement. http://www.sister-cities.org/news/announcing-2014-us-china-sister-cities-conference
Highlights:
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Welcome Reception. Location: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America.
Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
March 26 - 29. NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE — Mid-Year Conference & Gertrude E. Rush Awards Dinner. http://services.nationalbar.org/eBusiness/Meetings/Details.aspx?mid=41
Location: Gaylord National Hotel & Conference Center, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD.
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. MILITARY SPOUSE SYMPOSIUM — The MOAA Military Spouse Symposium, "Keeping a Career on the Move." Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers will be the keynote speaker at this event hosted by the Military Officers Association of America.
Location: Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King St., Alexandria, VA.
Contacts: Nancy Carr, pr@moaa.org, 703-838-0545
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. DISCOVERY - PROM INITIATIVE — Discovery Communications will kick off the national expansion of its annual SAY YES TO THE PROM initiative by welcoming a select group of deserving high school girls from KidsPeace and Magruder High School to the companys global headquarters for a day of mentoring, prom dress shopping and makeovers. The event marks the first of three SAY YES TO THE PROM events to be held this year, part of the programs national expansion designed to go beyond the dress and empower young girls across the country with additional events and industry partners including Mediacom in Des Moines, Iowa and Comcast, Harpo Studios and OWN in Chicago, Ill. in April and May. 11:00AM - 1:00 PM ET: Dress Selection and Makeovers 3:15 - 4:00 PM ET: Red Carpet Reveal. Contact: Kate Schroeder, Discovery Communications 240.662.2057, kate_schroeder@discovery.com
On the Net: www.discoverycommunications.com
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MORNING
March 25 - 26. 9:30 a.m. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD - COMPETITIVE SWITCHING RULES — The Surface Transportation Board announced today that it will hold a public hearing on March 25-26, 2014 in Petition for Rulemaking to Adopt Revised Competitive Switching Rules, EP 711, to explore issues surrounding The National Industrial Transportation League's (NITL) petition to modify the Board's standards for mandatory competitive switching. http://www.stb.dot.gov/\_\_85256593004F576F.nsf/0/591603007DB7EAA385257C74006026B6?OpenDocument
Location: Board's Hearing Room, 395 E Street, S.W.
Notes: tTe upcoming hearing is a rescheduling of a postponed October 22, 2013 hearing on this matter.
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. WOSB NATIONAL COUNCIL SPRING CONFERENCE — The 2014 WOSB National Council Spring Conference kicks off the 10th Annual National Small Business Contracting Week. This WOSB conference will include 2014 USWCC Awards and strategic growth in the federal government marketplace. http://www.americansbcc.org/meetings/ViewEvent.aspx?eventId=128
Location: Embassy Suites Washington D.C., 900 10th Street NW.
8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 'MAKING MARKETS WORK' — Creative Associates International's "Making Markets Work" will feature current and former ambassadors, development experts and analysts discussing "Navigating Economies in Crisis and Recovery," ''The Private Sector's Evolving Role in Market Stabilization in International Development" and "Social Innovation in Market Stabilization and Community Development." Open to the media for on-the-record comments.
Location: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue, NW.
Contacts: Michael J. Zamba, 202-572-1322
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. INTER-AMERICAN DIALOGUE - VENEZUELA — Liliana Ortega, director of COFAVIC, human rights organization founded in 1989, will share information and testimonies about abuses committed over the past month. Marianela Balbi, director of IPYS-Venezuela, an organization that monitors freedom of expression and threats against independent journalists, will then review the challenges that local journalists and media face as they try to report the news.
Location: 1211 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 510.
Contacts: 202-822-9002
Notes: Please note that the session will be held in Spanish.
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. GW - WOMEN OF ARAB SPRING — A Window Into Women of the Arab Spring: Progress or Reversals? With Isobel Coleman, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; Thomas Gorguissian, Editor, Al-Ahram; Gini Reticker, Filmmaker, "Awakening". RSVP: http://arabspringwomen.eventbrite.com
Location: Media and Public Affairs, B07, 805 21st Street NW.
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. WILSON CENTER - IRAN — Iran, the Next Five Years: Change or More of the Same? http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/iran-the-next-five-years-change-or-more-the-same-0
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center, 5th floor, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. WILSON CENTER - TTIP — "The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: A Regulatory Framework for the 21st Century." Panel: Brian Beary, Washington Correspondent, Europolitics; Kathryn Hauser, Managing Partner, Policy Connections International, LLC; Lori Wallach, Director, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Notes: Media guests, including TV crews, are welcome and should RSVP directly to Emily.Buss@wilsoncenter.org
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. CSIS - U.S. JAPAN ALLIANCE — The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Planning for President Obama's Trip to Japan. Michael Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS, Associate Professor, Georgetown University 9:05-10:30 Panel One: U.S. Politics and Expectations Ahead of the Obama Trip: Scott Miller, Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business, CSIS; Michael Schiffer, Senior Advisor, Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Moderator: Michael Green. 10:45-12:00 Panel Two: Japanese Politics and Expectations Ahead of the Obama trip: Yasuhiro Matsuda, Professor, University of Tokyo; Naoyuki Agawa, Professor, Keio University. Moderator: Michael Green.
Location: NOTE LOCATION: 215 Dirksen.
Contacts: RSVP to wcolson@csis.org
On the Net: http://www.csis.org
9:30 a.m. SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING'S FUTURE — Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris and Maverick Boats President Scott Deal, co-chairmen of the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, will present "A Vision For Managing America's Saltwater Recreational Fisheries."
Location: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW.
Contacts: Lauren Dunn, ldunn@nmma.org, 202-737-9752
9:30 a.m. SEC - CYBERSECURITY — Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Cyrus Amir-Mokri Panel discussion on cybersecurity at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Webcast at: http://www.sec.gov/index.htm.
Location: 100 F Street, NE.
Contacts: 202-622-2000
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. 10GBASE-T - WEB EVENT — Gigaom Research hosts a webinar on A Guide to 10GBASE-T for Infrastructure Pros. https://go.gigaom.com/WebinarIntel32614.html?WebinarSourceSource1
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. CSIS - DEVELOPMENT SPECTRUM - RESILIENCE — Resilience: Learning from Practice Across the Development Spectrum. Keynote Remarks: Amb. Jean Njeri Kamau, Charge D'Affaires A.I., Embassy of the Republic of Kenya to the United States. Framing Remarks: Maria Otero, Former Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, U.S. Department of State. Panel Discussion: Amb. William Garvelink, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo and Senior Adviser, CSIS ; Alex Thier, Assistant to the Administrator for Policy, Planning, and Learning, U.S. Agency for International Development; Jonathan Shrier, Acting Special Representative at the Office of Global Food Security, U.S. Department of State; Andrew Watson, Managing Director, Environment and Health, DAI. Moderator: Daniel F. Runde, Director, Project on Prosperity and Development and William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis, CSIS. http://csis.org/event/resilience-learning-practice-across-development-spectrum-0
Location: Conference Room 212-C, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.
Contacts: Jeremiah Magpile ((202) 775-3146)
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. ISS - OVERCOMING PAKISTANS NUCLER DANGER — IISS-US Book Launch: Overcoming Pakistan's Nuclear Dangers. http://www.iiss.org/en/events/events-s-calendar/overcoming-pakistans-nuclear-dangers-8c07
Location: 2121 K Street NW, Suite 801.
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. NED - AFRICAN STATE LEGISLATORS — African State Legislatures & Democratic Development: Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia & South Africa. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/african-state-legislatures-democratic-development-nigeria-kenya-ethiopia-south-africa-tickets-10988800799
Location: National Endowment for Democracy, 1025 F Street, NW, Suite 800.
10:30 a.m. PENTAGON - UNITED KINGDOM — Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel hosts an honor cordon to welcome the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond to the Pentagon. The cordon will be held on the steps of the Pentagon River Entrance. Following their bi-lateral meeting, there will be a press conference in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) at 11:30 a.m.
Notes: Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the Pentagon River Pedestrian Bridge only. Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and photo identification. Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.
11 a.m. HERITAGE - BRITISH GIBRALTAR — Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom hosts a discusstion on A British Gibraltar Is in the Interests of the United States with Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar. Host: Luke Coffey, Margaret Thatcher Fellow, The Heritage Foundation.
Location: 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.
Contacts: (202) 675-1752 (heritage.org)
11 a.m. PELVIC MESH LAWSUIT - PRESS CALL — the Corporate Action Network (CAN) will file a complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Johnson and Johnson (J&J) and the corporations top executives, including Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky for "destroying documents critical to lawsuits brought by thousands of women seriously injured by the corporations pelvic mesh implants". DIAL-IN INFO: 866-952-1907 or 785-424-1826; Conference ID: JOHNSON. CONTACT: Brett Abrams at 516-841-1105 or by email at brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com.
Notes: Th e
11 a.m. SMITHSONIAN - JAZZ — The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will honor the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane's iconic composition, A Love Supreme, at the launch of the 13th annual Jazz Appreciation Month with special appearance and a donation of iconic Coltrane materials from Ravi Coltrane and notable jazz photographer Chuck Stewart.
Location: Warner Bros. Theater, National Museum of American History; Constitution Avenue entrance, between 12th and 14th streets N.W.
Contacts: Valeska Hilbig (hilbigv@si.edu), 202-633-3129
Notes: Media website: http://newsdesk.si.edu
11 a.m. SNOWDEN PASSPORT PETITIONS — A pair of petitions with more than 100,000 signers will be presented at the State Department and the Justice Department. The petitions call for a change in the U.S. government stance toward NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden as well as reinstating his passport. Featured speakers: former CIA analyst Ray McGovern; former FBI special agent Coleen Rowley; Norman Solomon, founding director of the Institute for Public Accuracy and co-founder of RootsAction.org, a U.S. organization sponsoring the pair of petitions about Snowden.
Location: U.S. Department of Justice Building between 9th and 10th Streets NW.
Contacts: Sam Husseini, 202-421-6858
11:30 a.m. FMEP - ISRAEL'S MINORITIES — The Foundation for Middle East Peace and The Telos Group present "Envisioning a Shared Future: Israel's Minorities and an Inclusive Peace." With Jafar Farah, Founder & Director, Mossawa Center; Adv. Vardit Avidan, Advocate, Tmura; Dr. Yulia Zemlinskaya, Teaching Fellow, Hebrew University's Rothberg International School; Tal Abitbol, Field Coordinator, Israel Religious Action Center of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism; Ihab Elbedour, Activist for Israel's Bedouin citizens; and Ori Nir as Moderator, Spokesman, Americans for Peace Now.
Location: 2456 Rayburn.
Contacts: n/a, 202-835-3650
11:30 a.m. MISSISSIPPI RIVER MAYORS — Press Availability with 15 Mississippi River Mayors Visiting DC to Talk to Congress, White House, and Key Agencies about Issues Affecting River Vitality - Chemical Spills, Trade, and Conservation Key Topics. Participants: Mayor A.C. Wharton, Memphis, TN, Host (Co-Chair). http://www.nemw.org/images/issues/MRCTI/2014-03-17-MRCTI\_Public\_Agenda3.pdf Mayor Roy Buol, Dubuque, IA (Co-Chair); Mayor Larry Brown, Natchez, MS; Mayor Hyram Copeland, Vidalia, LA; Mayor John Cox III, Greenville, MS; Mayor Mark Huber, Prescott, WI; Mayor George Flaggs, Vicksburg, MS; Mayor Tim Kabat, La Crosse, WI; Mayor Dickie Kennemore, Osceola, AR; Mayor David Kleis, St. Cloud, MN; Mayor David Lattus, Hickman, KY; Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis, MO; Mayor Jo Anne Smiley, Clarksville, MO; Mayor Tom Thompson, Grafton, IL; Mayor Mark Vulich, Clinton, IA.
Location: 20 F Street, NW, Ground Floor Board Room.
On the Net: http://www.nemw.org
Notes: To cover the event, please contact Shawn Flaherty at 703-554-3609. Reporters may listen live to the briefing by calling (805) 360-1000 and entering 185304
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER - BOOK — Former President Jimmy Carter will be at The Washington Post to discuss his new book "A Call To Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power." Sally Quinn, founding editor of On Faith, and David Ignatius, Washington Post columnist, will interview President Carter. A book signing will follow.
Location: 1150 15th Street, NW.
Contacts: Jennifer Lee, 202-334-5207
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AFTERNOON
12 p.m. ACCESS TO ABORTION — A diverse group of global leaders will present a declaration calling for "universal access to safe and legal abortion." They are expected to call on governments to decriminalize abortion. With Dr. Nafis Sadik, former Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Secretary-General of the 1994 ICPD; Arzu Rana Deuba, Member of Parliament and the Constitutional Assembly, Nepal; Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children & Social Protection, Republic of Ghana; Ivens Reis Reyner, member, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights.
Location: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW.
Contacts: Kirsten Sherk, sherkk@ipas.org, 919-360-6616
12 p.m. CATO - THE KIDNEY SELLERS - IRAN — The Kidney Sellers: A Journey of Discovery in Iran with author Sigrid Fry-Revere, Founder, Center for Ethical Solutions; with comments by Sally Satel, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; and Robert Klitzman, Associate Professor, Columbia University; moderated by Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute. Contact: Alberto Lammers, Media Relations Director, Desk: 202-789-5212; Cato Media Relations at 202-789-5200 or email pr@cato.org
Location: The Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW.
On the Net: http://www.cato.org/live.
12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION — The European Parliament Liaison Office with the US Congress will hold a press conference with Sharon Bowles, Chair of the Parliament's Economics and Monetary Affairs Committee, on EU-US financial services regulation.
Location: 2175 K Street NW, Suite 600.
Notes: RSVP to kirsten.jongberg@ep.europa.eu 202-862-4737.
12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. MEI - LIBYA'S TRANSITION — Assessing Libya's Transition. Speakers: David Mack (The Middle East Institute), Karim Mezran (Atlantic Council) and Fred Wehrey (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) for a discussion on Libya. Charles Dunne (Freedom House) will moderate the discussion. http://www.mei.edu/events/assessing-libyas-transition
Location: Carnegie Endowment, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW.
12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. NEC - GRABOYES — Robert Graboyes, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, "Health Care: Getting Past Groundhog Day". http://thenationaleconomistsclub.shuttlepod.org/Default.aspx?pageId=483884&eventId=855175&EventViewMode=EventDetails
Location: Chinatown Garden Restaurant 618 H St NW.
12 p.m. - 2 p.m. NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING — The National Women's Business Council and special guest Divya Nag, co-founder of Stem Cell Theranostics.
Location: Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, S.W.
Contacts: RSVP to Taylor.Barnes@nwbc.gov (202-205-6827)
12:30 p.m. WASHINGTON INSTITUTE - BOSTON BOMBING - WEBCAST — To discuss the Department of Homeland Security's role in addressing this critical issue, The Washington Institute hosts a Policy Forum with John Cohen. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/25875
12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. THE JERUSALEM FUND - CITIZEN STRANGERS — "Citizen Strangers: Palestinians and the Birth of Israels Liberal Settler State" with Shira Robinson. http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/d/RegisterForEvent/i/43995
Location: The Palestine Center, 2425 Virginia Ave, NW.
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. STIMSON CENTER - S. ASIA - TACTICAL WEAPONS — Implications on Deterrence Stability and Escalation Control of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in S. Asia. Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey McCausland, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Research and Minerva Chair at the Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College. Moderator: Michael Krepon, Stimson Co-founder and Director, South Asia program. http://www.stimson.org/events/implications-on-deterrence-stability-and-escalation-control-of-tactical-nuclear-weapons-in-s-asia/
Location: 1111 19th Street NW, 12th Floor.
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION — Public forum to provide a status on the agency's asteroid initiative planning, including ongoing studies and opportunities for engagement following the request for information last summer. NASA experts will provide an overview of an Asteroid Initiative Announcement of Opportunities (scheduled to release on or before the date of the forum) and announce new engagement opportunities related to the Asteroid Grand Challenge. http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-to-hold-asteroid-initiative-opportunities-forum/.UytLqvldWGw
Location: NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, James E. Webb Auditorium.
Contacts: Chris Moore, 202-358-4650
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. MEDICAL SOLUTIONS - COMPUTATIONAL CHALLENGES — FasterCures Webinar on "DREAM8.5: Crowdsourcing Computational Challenges to Accelerate Medical Solutions. The Dialogue on Reverse Engineering Assessment and Methods (DREAM) project is a challenge-based initiative designed to foster the development of predictive models that allow scientists to better understand human disease. In 2013, after seven years and 27 challenges, DREAM merged with Sage Bionetworks to launch DREAM8.5, a series of three computational challenges that seek to crowd-source solutions to complex biomedical questions in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. Speakers: Stephen H. Friend, President, Co-Founder, and Director, Sage Bionetworks; John Wilbanks, Chief Commons Officer, Sage Bionetworks, and Senior Fellow, FasterCures. Moderator: Gillian Parrish, Associate Director, Communications and Outreach, FasterCures. https://fastercures.webex.com/mw0401l/mywebex/default.do?siteurlfastercures
1 p.m. - 4 p.m. GEORGETOWN LAW - CYBER VIGILANTISM — Georgetown Law's Center on National Security and the Law, National Security Law Society, and Cyberlaw Association present: "Cyber Vigilantism or Self-Defense? The Legal and Policy Implications of 'Hacking Back.'" Keynote Address: John M. (Mike) McConnell, Former Director of National Intelligence, Vice-Chair, Booz Allen & Hamilton.
Location: Gewirz, 12th Floor, Georgetown Law, 120 F Street, NW.
Contacts: Holly McMahon, 202-662-1035
Notes: RSVP to rsvp2@law.georgetown.edu
1 p.m. - 4 p.m. GEORGETOWN LAW - VIGILANTISM OR SELF-DEFENSE? — The National Security Law Society at Georgetown University Law Center presents Vigilantism or Self-Defense? The Legal and Policy Implications of Hacking Back. Keynote Address: John M. "Mike" McConnell, Former Director of National Intelligence, Vice-Chair, Booz Allen & Hamilton. Panel: Jason Weinstein, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson; Kristen Eichensehr, Associate, Covington & Burling; Shane McGee, General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs, Mandiant; Kimberly Peretti, Partner, Alston & Bird; Mary DeRosa, Distinguished Visitor from Practice, Georgetown Law (Moderator). http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/press-releases/vigilantism-or-self-defense-hacking-back.cfm
Location: Georgetown University Law Center, Gewirz Student Center, 12th Floor, 120 F Street, NW.
1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION - EARLY LEARNING — Beyond Screen Time - Early Learning and Digital Media. http://newamerica.net/events/2014/beyond\_screentime
Location: New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400.
1:30 p.m. HERITAGE - U.S. - BRITAIN - DEFENSE PARTNERS — The Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom hosts a discussion on Why Britain and America Must Remain Partners of Choice in Defense with The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Hosted by Nile Gardiner, Ph.D., Director, Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation. http://www.heritage.org/events/2014/03/philip-hammond-mp
Location: 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.
Contacts: (202) 675-1752 (heritage.org)
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. BROOKINGS - OFFSHORE OIL - GOVERNANCE — Offshore Oil and Gas Governance in the Arctic: A Leadership Role for the United States. http://www.brookings.edu/events/2014/03/26-arctic-governance
Location: Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW.
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. FREEDOM HOUSE - IRAN — Prospects for Reform in Iran. Speakers: Marietje Schaake Member of the European Parliament; Bijan R. Kian, Former Member, Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States. Moderator: Charles Dunne, Director of Middle East and North Africa Programs, Freedom House. http://freedomhouse.org/event/upcoming-event-prospects-reform-iran.UyxfHPldWGw
Location: Freedom House, 1301 Connecticut Ave 4th floor.
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. HIGH-VOLTAGE GRID — The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and WIRES hosts briefing on Electric Transmission 201 - The High-Voltage Grid: Its Operations, Challenges, and Benefits. Speakers: Laura Manz, Executive Consultant, Smart Wire Grid; Judy Chang, Principal, The Brattle Group; Jeff Dennis, Director of Policy Development at the Office of Energy Policy & Innovation, FERC; Raja Sundararajan, Vice President of Transmission Strategy and Grid Development, Transource Energy; Dan Belin, Director of Electric Transmission, Ecology & Environment Inc.; Jack Halpern, Power Sector Leader for Environmental Services, Stantec . Moderator: James Hoecker, former FERC Chairman; WIRES Counsel, Husch Blackwell LLP. RSVP to: http://www.eesi.org/032614transmissionRSVP
Location: Capitol Visitor Center, Room 209-08 (Senate Side) East Capitol Street and 1st Street, NE .
2:30 p.m. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - UKRAINE — Elmar Brok MEP (EPP, Germany), Chair of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, having just returned from a visit to Moscow, will provide first-hand insights into Russia's strategy and policy toward Ukraine and Crimea. He will also address the ways in which the US and EU can cooperate to contain and de-escalate the situation.
Location: Bertelsmann Foundation, 1101 New York Avenue NW, Suite 901.
Notes: RSVP to kirsten.jongberg@ep.europa.eu 202-862-4737.
2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - DIGITAL BILL OF RIGHTS — "A European Digital Bill of Rights & the Future of Transatlantic Data Flows." Speakers: Christian Ehler, Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the United States and the EU Co-Chair of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue; Claude Moraes, European Parliament Rapporteur for "U.S. NSA surveillance programme, surveillance bodies in various Member States and their impact on EU citizens' fundamental rights and on transatlantic cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs."
Location: Powell Room, Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Contacts: Kirsten Jongberg, kirsten.jongberg@ep.europa.eu, 202-431-4932
Notes: RSVP to events@europeaninstitute.org.
3 p.m. - 5 p.m. CSIS - U.S. ENTITLEMENTS — The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion of the global state of the art in retirement policy and pension system reform. Lessons From Abroad for the U.S. Entitlement Debate. http://my.csis.org/csis/CSIS1700/CSISEventRegistration.aspx?eventcode=2014\_104
Location: CSIS, First Floor, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue,.
Contacts: 202-887-0200
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. U.S. SENTENCING COMMISSION CHAIR — The American Criminal Law Review at Georgetown University Law Center presents an address by the Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Judge Patti B. Saris of the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts. http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/press-releases/sentencing-commission-chair-speaks.cfm MEDIA RSVP: relations@law.georgetown.edu.
Location: Georgetown University Law Center, Room 200, McDonough Hall, 600 New Jersey Avenue.
3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. WILSON CENTER - SOUTH KOREA — South Korea's Trilateral Partnership with the U.S. and Japan. http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/south-koreas-trilateral-partnership-the-us-and-japan
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center, 6th floor, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
4 p.m. NPC - PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATOR — The National Press Club Newsmakers Committee will host Pennsylvania Democratic State Senator and leading Philadelphia mayoral candidate Anthony Williams, who will discuss shale gas drilling, of which he is a vocal supporter.
Location: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW.
Contacts: Frank Maisano, frank.maisano@bgllp.com, 202-828-5864
4 p.m. - 5 p.m. CSIS - SOCIAL MEDIA - VENEZUELA — Social Media and Protest Movements in Venezuela: A Blogger's Perspective with James "Boz" Bosworth, Director of Analysis, Southern Pulse, and Author, Bloggings by Boz. Moderator: Carl Meacham, Director, CSIS Americas Program.
Location: C-115, CSIS 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.
On the Net: http://www.csis.org
____
EVENING
6 p.m. LASTING IMPACTS OF IRAQ WAR — U.S. veterans, Iraqi human rights organizations and their allies will hold a peoples hearing to present their testimony on the ongoing health crisis caused by toxic munitions and burn pits used by the U.S. military during the occupation of Iraq; sexual violence in the U.S. military and the destructive effects of multiple deployments on veterans; and the U.S. governments role in sectarian violence in Iraq. The hearing is part of the Right to Heal campaign, a joint effort by U.S. veterans and Iraqi civilians to hold U.S. government officials accountable for the human cost of the war and demand reparations for affected communities. Speakers: Yanar Mohammed is president and co-founder of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI); Falah Alwan is President of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI); U.S. Veterans will speak about their experiences with Military Sexual Trauma, deployment with trauma, and exposure to environmental toxins.; Mozhgan Savabieasfahani is an environmental toxicologist with a focus on health impacts of war; John Tirman is Executive Director and Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Center for International Studies; Pamela Spees is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights.; Phil Donahue, creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show and Co-Director and Co-Producer of the film Body of War.
Location: Friends Meeting of Washington, Meeting Room, 2111 Florida Avenue NW.
Contacts: RSVP to http://bit.ly/1kv6MKn
On the Net: ew.livestream.com/ccrjustice/righttoheal
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. GW - CYBERSECURITY — Phyllis Schneck, deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity and communications for the Department of Homeland Security's National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), will discuss "resiliency and partnership in cybersecurity in an increasingly networked world" and will address the varying nature and increasing number of cyber threats.
Location: The George Washington University, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, Room 702, 2130 H St. NW.
Notes: RSVP: Media interested in attending should contact Kurtis Hiatt at kkhiatt@gwu.edu or 202-994-1849.
6:30 p.m. POET LAUREATE SELECTS 2014 WITTER BYNNER FELLOWS — The 19th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress, Natasha Trethewey, has selected poet Honoree Fanonne Jeffers as the recipient of a Witter Bynner Fellowship and has named poet Jake Adam York posthumously as a fellow. effers will read her poetry, and Trethewey will read the work of York, who died in December 2012. Press contact: Donna Urschel (202) 707-1639, durschel@loc.gov
Location: Montpelier Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave., S.E.
7 p.m. 'FARMLAND' DOCUMENTARY — Soon-to-be-released documentary "Farmland" directed by James Moll, an Oscar and two-time Emmy-winning filmmaker, takes "an intimate look into the lives of those responsible for running America's farming operations and growing and raising our food."
Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Amphitheater.
Contacts: Lauren Brady, Lauren.Brady@ketchum.com, 202-835-8824
7:30 p.m. ANGELS OF THE BATTLEFIELD GALA — Armed Services YMCA Honors Five Corpsmen and Medics Who Have Heroically Saved Lives. Participants: Admiral James A. "Sandy Winnefeld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will deliver the keynote address; Kim Dozier, Associated Press, will serve as the Emcee; Country music stars Savannah Berry, finalist from NBCs the Voice, and Grammy Award winner, Kristian Bush will perform. CONTACT: Meredith Resnick, Hayes Group (202) 549-0807 mresnick@hayespr.com
Location: The Four Seasons, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
8 p.m. HOME COURT BASKETBALL GAME — Hill's Angels vs. Hoya Lawyas: 27th Annual Home Court Charity Basketball Game, with members of Congress facing off against Georgetown Law faculty and staff.
Location: Trinity Center Trinity Washington University 125 Michigan Avenue, NE; Washington, D.C. 20017
Notes: Contact: mediarelations@law.georgetown.edu. Doors open at 7:00 p.m
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