Daybook

TODAY’S HEADLINERS

Wreath-laying ceremony — 12:15 p.m. — The White House Commission on Remembrance holds a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Carmella LaSpada of the commission participates. Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Section 46, Arlington. Contact: 202/783-4665 or 202/685-4645.

Book signing — 12:30 p.m. — Trover Books holds a book signing of “Bush Country: How Dubya Became a Great President While Driving Liberals Insane.” John Podhoretz, author and former White House speechwriter, participates. Location: Trover Books, 221 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Contact: 703/739-5920.

PRESIDENT BUSH

Meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House.

VICE PRESIDENT

Concludes an eight-day trip to China, Japan and South Korea.

ECONOMIC REPORTS

8:30 a.m. — Bureau of the Census releases a report on residential construction for March. Location: 14th Street between E Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Contact: 202/482-2235.

9:15 a.m. — Federal Reserve releases a report on industrial production and capacity use for March. Location: Constitution Avenue between 20th and 21st streets NW. Contact: 202/452-3206.

FEDERAL AGENCIES

10 a.m. — International Trade Administration holds a meeting of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board to discuss a campaign in the United Kingdom to promote tourism in the United States. Location: Capital Hilton-Senate Room, 1001 16th St. NW. Contact: 202/482-0140.

11 a.m. — International Trade Commission holds a meeting to consider an invoice on circular welded carbon quality line pipe from China, South Korea and Mexico. Location: 500 E St. SW, Room 101. Contact: 202/205-2000.

1 p.m. — Internal Revenue Service holds a teleconference meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Multilingual Initiative Issue Committee on improving customer service. Contact: 888/912-1227.

SUPREME COURT

No oral arguments are scheduled. Contact: 202/479-3211.

SENATE

Not in session. Spring recess. Contact: Republican Cloakroom, 202/224-8601, or Democratic Cloakroom, 202/224-8541.

HOUSE

Not in session. Spring recess. Contact: Republican Cloakroom, 202/225-2020, or Democratic Cloakroom, 202/225-1600.

GENERAL AGENDA

Moving NOAA into the 21st century — all day — The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration holds a forum, “Moving NOAA into the 21st Century.”

Highlights — 3:30 p.m. — NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher. Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contact: 301/713-1622, Ext. 198.

Political issues — all day — American Bankruptcy Institute meets.

Highlights — 1 p.m. — Tim Russert of “Meet the Press” discusses current political issues. Location: J.W. Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contact: 703/739-0800, Ext. 115.

Unlicensed spectrum — all day — New America Foundation holds a conference, “Pervasive Connectivity: How Unlicensed Spectrum Will Help the World Go Wireless.”

Highlights — 12:45 p.m. — Eli Noam of Columbia University

Location: National Guard Association of the United States, 1 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Contact: 202/986-2700.

Arab world — all day — The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the Middle East and North Africa Region of the World Bank hold a conference, “Visions for Development in the Arab World.”

Highlights — 11 a.m. — Sharif Elmusa of the American University in Cairo, Edward Girardet of Media Action International and Crispin Hawes of the Eurasia Group, “War, Reconstruction and Development.” Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Contact: 202/687-6215 or 202/687-5793.

Native lands — all day — Georgetown University holds a conference, “Native Lands.” Highlights — 3 p.m. — William Yellow Robe, “Tribal Dramas: Better-n-Indians.” Location: Georgetown University, 37th and O streets NW. Contact: 202/687-4328.

School vouchers — 8 a.m. — The Georgetown Public Policy Institute holds a press conference on “School Vouchers: Examining the D.C. Experiment.” Location: National Press Club, 14th and F streets NW. Holeman Lounge. Contact: 860/573-6886.

Breakfast program — 8:30 a.m. — Women in Government Relations holds a breakfast program on the establishment and inner workings of the Homeland Security Department. Susan Neely, Homeland Security Department assistant secretary for public affairs, participates. Location: American Medical Association, 1101 Vermont Ave. NW, 12th floor. Contact: 202/366-9632.

Health care system crisis — 9 a.m. — American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research holds a discussion, “Health Care System Crisis: How Can We Proceed with Reform?” David Walker, comptroller general in the General Accounting Office, participates. Location: AEI, 1150 17th St. NW. Wohlstetter Conference Center, 12th floor. Contact: 202/862-4871.

Eight years at the WTO — noon — Women in International Trade holds a discussion, “Eight Years at the WTO: Inventing the World Trading System.” Jim Bacchus, former chief judge in the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body, participates. Location: Hotel Washington, Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street NW. Parkview Room. Contact: rentons@gtlaw.com; www.wiit.org.

War in Iraq — noon — American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research holds a discussion on the war in Iraq, terrorism and the presidential election. Former Sen. Fred Thompson, Tennessee Republican, participates. Location: AEI, 1150 17th St. NW. Wohlstetter Conference Center, 12th floor. Contact: 202/862-4871.

Social Security reform — noon — The American Academy of Actuaries holds a press briefing on “Social Security Reform: Solutions Inside the Box.” Ron Gebhardtsbauer, Eric Klieber, Bruce Schobel and Robert Randall of the academy participate. Location: B-354 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202/785-7872.

“Fanatics and Fools”# — 12:30 p.m. — New America Foundation holds a book discussion on “Fanatics and Fools: Rebuilding Our Broken Democracy.” Author and columnist Arianna Huffington and Steven Clemons of NAF participate. Location: NAF, 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW. Contact: 202/986-4901.

South Africa — 7 p.m. — The National Geographic’s All Roads Film Project and the South African Embassy hold a discussion, musical performance and film screening to mark the 10th anniversary of democracy in South Africa. Location: National Geographic, 1145 17th St. NW. Contact: 202/857-7142.