Swamp Sunrise

Good Morning.

Here are a few Washington events of note for Friday, April 28, as gathered by the Associated Press.

President Bush is meeting with the President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan this morning.

8:30 a.m. Commerce Department releases the Gross Domestic Product for the first quarter.

10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. WATER QUALITY — US Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment Program releases a nationwide assessment on volatile organic compounds in wells and groundwater.
Location: Room 2318, Rayburn.

April 28 - 30. LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS — Log Cabin Republicans National Convention and Liberty Education Forum.
Speakers include Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson.
Location: US Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H. St. NW

9 a.m. IMMIGRATION — Georgetown University Law Center holds its 3rd annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference.
9:15 a.m. Sen. Chuck Hagel.
10 a.m. John Trasvina of the Mexican American Legal Defense Education al Fund and Jeanne Butterfield of the American immigration Lawyers Association.
1:30 p.m. Juan Osuna of the Board of Immigration Appeals.
4 p.m. Michael Moreland, Association Director for Domestic Policy, White House.
Location: 600 New Jersey Ave. NW.

9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. BIOFUELS — The World Environmental Center, others hold a biofuels symposium.
12 p.m. Keynote speaker - Assistant Energy Secretary Alexander Karsner.
Location: National Press Club.

9:15 a.m. - 5 p.m. CARLOS BULOSAN — Asian Division of the Library of Congress holds a symposium on author Carlos Bulosan, titled ``America Is in the Heart for the 21st Century.’’
Location: Room 119, Jefferson Bldg., 10 First St. SE

8 a.m. SPACE RESEARCH — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds a discussion with NASA Administrator Michael Griffin on space research and exploration.
Location: 1615 H St. NW.

9 a.m. BUSINESS-MEXICANS — The Hudson Institute holds a panel discussion on why Mexican-Americans have lower rates of business ownership.
Location: 6th floor, 1015 15th St. NW.

10 a.m. AL QAEDA-NUCLEAR — America’s Truth Forum holds a debate on Al Qaeda’s nuclear weapons, followed by a news conference at about 11 a.m. at which evidence of Al Qaeda having tactical nuclear weapons will be presented.
Location: National Press Club.

10 a.m. COMPETITIVENESS — Brookings Institution holds a forum on U.S. competitiveness in the 21st Century, with MIT President Susan Hockfield, retired Loral Space and Communications CEO Bernard Schwartz, others.
Location: Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW.

10 a.m. CONGRESS-TECHNOLOGY — The Center for Democracy and Technology holds a media only breakfast briefing to discuss propsects for technology legislation in the 109th Congress.
Location: CDT Conference Room, 11th floor, 1634 I St. NW.

10 a.m. DEFENSE ISSUES — Defense Today and BAE Systems sponsor a forum with Army Secretary Francis Harvey at 10 a.m. and Rep. Norm Dicks at 11 a.m. discussing defense issues.
Location: Suite 1003, 1325 G St. NW.

10:30 a.m. PALESTINE — The International Republican Institute holds a discussion with Mustafa Barghouthi of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and Nader Said of Birzeit University on the next steps for Palestine.
Location: Suite 700, 1225 ``Eye’’ St. NW.

12 p.m. KOREA FREEDOM — North Korea Freedom Day Rally, with UN Amb. John Bolton, Special Envoy Jay Lefkowitz, Rep. Ed Royce, others.
Location: West Front, Capitol.

12 p.m. LATIN AMERICA-NEW LEADERS — Women’s Foreign Policy Group holds luncheon program on ``New Leadership in Latin America: Impact on Latin America and the U.S.’’ Speakers from the OAS and UN Foundation.
Location: Carnegie Endowment, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW

12:30 p.m. FUTURE OF RAILROADS — Wisconsin Transportation Secretary and National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission member Frank Basalacchi speaks on ``Building Rail’s Future’’ at the monthly Transportation Table luncheon.
Location: National Press Club

6 p.m. SOUTH AFRICA — U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Barbara Masekela and former Ambassador Princeton Lyman discuss the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and other issues.
Location: Room 213, 1957 E St. NW.

7 p.m. CATHOLIC CARDINALS — U.S. Catholic Cardinals attend the 17th American Cardinals Dinner fundraiser.
Location: Reagan Trade Center.

7 p.m. MEDIA ETHICS — The Society of Professional Journalists holds a panel discussion on media ethics, with Jill Abramson of the New York Times, Carl Stern of George Washington University, and Steffen Gram of Danish Broadcasting Corp.
Location: Room 309, 805 21st St. NW.