Today’s Events In Washington

White House:

PRESIDENT BUSH – Tours Capital Area Food Bank; makes remarks at the food bank; signs H.R.4664, National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, Roosevelt Room.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY – No public schedule. US Senate: No Scheduled Events. US House: No Scheduled Events. Other: SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS _ 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. A National Academies’ Institute of Medicine committee, providing guidance to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program managers on aspects of implementing a pre-emptive smallpox vaccination program, holds its first meeting to hear from the CDC and gather input from other interested parties. Location: National Academies facility, Room 100, 500 5th St. NW.

INS RESTRUCTURING _ 8:30 a.m. The Migration Policy Institute holds a panel discussion on the restructuring of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, with Acting Deputy INS Commissioner Mike Becraft, Jeanne Butterfield of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, former INS Commissioner Doris Meissner, and others. Location: 7th floor conference room, 1616 P St. NW.

U.S.-EU _ 9:15 a.m. EU Commissioner Chris Patten holds a news briefing on the outcome of the U.S.-EU ministerial meeting, covering counter-terrorism cooperation, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and the Mideast, and on the EU perspective going into the Quartet Meeting on Dec. 20. Location: EC offices, 2300 M St. NW.

BUSH-ENVIRONMENT _ 9:30 a.m. National environmental and public health groups hold a briefing on the status and outlook for environmental issues in the Bush administration. Location: Holmes Room, Willard Hotel, 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

IMF BRIEFING _ 9:30 a.m. IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson holds a news briefing. Location: IMF Center, 720 19th St. NW.

TAX REDUCTIONS _ 10 a.m. The Club for Growth holds a news conference with supply side economists to urge cuts in payroll tax rates to stimulate the economy. Participants include Jack Kemp, Lawrence Kudlow, William Kristol and Stephen Moore. Location: National Press Club.

TITLE IX _ 10 a.m. The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education holds an interactive teleconference on reports of abuses in the Title IX Commission’s processes and what it says are its proposals to weaken Title IX. Contacts: Margot Friedman, 202-588-5180. Notes: Reporters may dial 800-351-4893 and use the code Title IX to participate in the teleconference.

CHURCH-STATE _ 11 a.m. Americans united for Separation of Church and State hold a panel discussion on the conservative case for separation of church and state. Location: Room 2237, Rayburn.

VIDEO GAMES _ 11 a.m. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Rep. Betty McCollum and David Walsh of the National institute on Media and the Family hold a news conference to release the 7th annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card. Location: Room 342, Dirksen.

DEMOCRATS-WEBSTER _ 11:30 a.m. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., hold a press conference on the findings of a GAO report about the selection process by which William Webster was named chairman of the SEC’s Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Location: House Radio/TV Gallery.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE _ 11:45 a.m. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities holds a conference call briefing on President Bush’s lack of clarity in his announcement last Saturday concerning the unemployment insurance extension. Contacts: Michelle Bazie, 202-408- 1080 Notes: Call contact for details. Also runs at 1:45 p.m.

EUROPEAN UNION _ 12 p.m. Chris Patten, the European Commission’s Commissioner for External Affairs, discusses the European Union in world affairs, sponsored by the School of Advanced International Studies. Location: Kenney Auditorium, 1740 Massachusetts Ave. NW.

FAUCI-BIOTERRORISM _ 12 p.m. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, will deliver a grand rounds lecture titled “Bioterrorism: A Clear and Present Danger.” Location: George Washington University Hospital Auditorium, 900 23rd St. NW.

MODERATE SHI’ISM-IRAQ _ 12 p.m. The Middle East Institute hosts a roundtable briefing on “Moderate Shi’ism and the Future of Iraq.” Participants are Sheikh Abdulmajid Al-Hooei, president, Al-Kohi Foundation, Iraq; and Laith Kubba, senior program officer, Middle East Program, National Endowment for Democracy. Location: Middle East Institute, 1761 N St. NW.

RELIGION-ENVIRONMENT _ 12 p.m. The Worldwatch Institute holds a briefing on a report showing religious institutions worldwide are p 1/8ushing the environmental movement. Location: 8th floor, Worldwatch Institute, 1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW.

HEALTH LEGISLATION _ 12 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. The Alliance for Health Reform sponsors a luncheon discussion, “Health on the Hill: What Health Legislation Can We Expect from the New Congress?” Location: National Press Club, Holeman Lounge.

CLEAN AIR _ 12:15 p.m. The Clean Air Trust holds a briefing with public interest group representatives on debunking the myths of emission trading. Location: National Press Club.

TAX CUTS _ 1:30 p.m. Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation hold a panel discussion on possible tax cuts, with Daniel Mitchell of Heritage Foundation, and Wayne Brough and Erick Gustafson of the foundation. Location: Room 1539, Longworth.

YOUNG-APPROPRIATIONS _ 1:30 p.m. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Young holds a media availability to discuss the outlook and timeline for FY03 appropriations in January. Location: Room H-140, Capitol.

VANESSA REDGRAVE-CHECHNYA _ 3 p.m. Actress and activist Vanessa Redgrave addresses a National Press Club afternoon newsmaker. Topic: “Akhmed Zakayev and the Struggle for Peace in Chechnya.” Location: National Press Club, Lisagor Room.

LOAD-DATE: December 19, 2002