American Progress is pleased to present the Third Annual Progressive Party, an evening of celebration in support of our work and our mission.   When: Thursday, May 8, 2008 at The Newseum in Washington, DC.

Five years after President Bush declared “mission accomplished” in Iraq aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the administration is requesting $108 billion in supplemental funding on top of an already appropriated $91 billion for FY2008 spending in Iraq and Afghanistan. If approved, this would bring the total direct cost of the war in Iraq alone to approximately $675 billion. On the anniversary of the president’s speech, Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, will speak at the Center for American Progress on the latest supplemental funding request and recent developments in Iraq and the region.

Due to the unprecedented nature of the 2008 election, communities of color are being actively sought after and their role and influence scrutinized by the media and political pundits. In an effort to add depth to the national conversation about the important role these communities are playing and will continue to play in '08 and beyond, the Center for American Progress Action Fund is bringing together noted experts from the Asian American, Latino, Native American, and African American communities to discuss how these communities view this process, how they are working together to advance a common agenda, and about the role voters of color will play in November and beyond.

In a controversial new book on America's debates over national security, Matthew Yglesias, associate editor of The Atlantic Monthly, presents a critical analysis of progressives’ failure to produce a coherent alternative to the conservative approach to foreign policy. Conventional examinations of progressives' political difficulties in dealing with the national security issue focus on a perceived lack of "toughness." Heads in the Sand proposes a different theory: that progressives have had difficulty taking full advantage of the Bush administration's failures because they've largely avoided arguing on the strategic level.

Rand Beers, President of the National Security Network and Kurt Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a  New American Security and co-author of Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security, will offer a critical analysis of the book’s argument from their perspectives as the leaders of two institutions working to engage in America’s national security and defense policy debates.

Is the Religious Right dead? Has the left closed the "God gap?” What religious voices are speaking out on political issues—and how effective are they? What role should religion play in politics and presidential campaigns?

In a campaign season where two of the most significant speeches by presidential candidates have been about religion—Republican Mitt Romney speaking about being a Mormon and Democrat Barack Obama speaking about his former pastor—it is important to examine the power and influence of religion in politics.

E.J. Dionne, Amy Sullivan, and Jim Wallis are expert analysts of religion in public life. Each has a new book examining the changing religious and political landscape in our nation today. Their insights, inside stories, and keen analysis offer new and hopeful ways of thinking about religion and public life in the months and years ahead.

Copies of all three books will be available for purchase.

As economic growth in the U.S. slows, our country's global warming gas emissions continue to rise. Meanwhile, consumers are being hit hard by the twin burdens of a sagging housing market and rising energy prices at home and at the gas pump. It's time to invest wisely in protecting family budgets and revitalizing our built environment. With smart policy we can prioritize energy efficiency to ease the woes of consumers, lenders, financial markets, and our environment. Recognizing this opportunity to offer real solutions to pressing problems, Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) plans to introduce legislation giving incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers who build, buy, or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency. This timely legislation reflects foresight and the considered input of a broad coalition of housing advocates, financial institutions, government leaders, developers, and the environmental community. Please join us to discuss how this critical intersection of policy concerns can respond to the needs of America's communities and help lift our troubled economy to build a more vibrant, energy efficient, and low-carbon future.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security commemorated its fifth anniversary. Ten months from now, the homeland security apparatus put in place since the attacks of September 11 will undertake its first-ever presidential transition. The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, followed by a panel of homeland security analysts, will discuss the evolution of homeland security over the past seven years; existing challenges and capabilities at the federal, state, and local governmental levels and within the private sector; and key issues that will confront the new administration and Congress in 2009.

8:30 a.m.
Remarks by:
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security

9:30 a.m.
Panel Discussion:
Barbara A. Grewe, Senior Policy Advisor, MITRE Corporation and former Senior Counsel for Special Projects, 9/11 Commission
Daniel B. Prieto, Senior Fellow for Homeland Security and Intelligence at IBM’s Global Leadership Initiative

Moderated by:
Philip J. (P.J.) Crowley, Senior Fellow and Director of Homeland Security, Center for American Progress Action Fund and Author of Safe at Home

During this presidential campaign year when immigration has played a central role, Progressive States Network and the Center for American Progress Action Fund are hosting an event to highlight states' efforts which have created a blueprint for progressive national reform.  Although the media has largely ignored progressive viewpoints on this issue in favor of news that is often more divisive and politically charged, many forward-thinking state legislators and local advocates have had notable success championing state immigration policy that is humane, fair and resists scapegoating. Their examples provide a critical, much-needed model for federal immigration policy that can uplift all members of our communities by strengthening the economic security of all families and integrating newcomers into our society through sensible, comprehensive approaches. 

The event will feature state legislators and advocates who have led efforts to defeat anti-immigrant legislation in their states and promote positive, progressive immigration policies.

The continued use of racial profiling by law enforcement agencies continues to raise questions about both its effectiveness as an investigative tool; as well as the boundaries it tests with respect to civil liberties. At a time when technological advances make it possible for investigators to profile a suspect not just based on race, but on his or her very DNA, racial profiling and genetic privacy are two related issues that together present a singular problem for policy makers: How do we reconcile our desire for effective law enforcement with maintaining criminal investigation protocols that respect the rights of citizens?

With keynote remarks by the Honorable John Conyers (D-MI) and the release of a paper on racial profiling and genetic privacy by visiting fellow Michael Boylan, this expert panel will address the many questions raised by racial profiling.

Following the stunning defeat of President Musharraf's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, by the opposition in the February 18 parliamentary elections, all eyes are now on Pakistan. The elections have served to diminish the Bush administration's "indispensable ally" and to fundamentally alter Pakistan's political landscape. U.S. policymakers must decide what the election results mean for Pakistan's future and U.S. policy toward Pakistan and the region. Senator John Kerry, just back from observing the elections in Pakistan, will share his insights on the elections and make recommendations for how the United States should shift its strategy toward Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Developments in Pakistan are of great interest to the United States and the world. The growing strength of militant groups, the establishment of terrorist safehavens in Pakistan's tribal areas, and what many see as a growing phenomenon of "Talibanization" mean that events in Pakistan have direct implications for U.S. national security interests. Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for a stimulating discussion with Senator Kerry on the multiple challenges facing U.S. policy in Pakistan.

For the first time ever, Nevada joined South Carolina as an early nominating state, and the impact of Latino and African-American voters on key states such as California, Texas, and Louisiana is more significant than ever before. This election season has already seen record voter turnout, and with candidates in both parties battling for every vote, the African-American and Latino electorates are shaping up to be highly influential players in this hotly contested race for president.

But will Latinos vote for an African-American candidate? How do African-American voters feel about the focus on Latino voters? How are these communities shaping up the 2008 election? What are the issues that unite African Americans and Latinos? And what are the campaigns doing to reach out them?

For insights into these and other important questions, the Center for American Progress Action Fund invites you to a panel discussion with leading experts to explore the role and impact these communities will have in the 2008 election and beyond.

The U.S. credit card market is showing signs of trouble just as the home mortgage foreclosure crisis surges to unprecedented heights across the United States and throughout the global financial marketplace. As borrowing in the mortgage market slows, credit card borrowing is rapidly accelerating. In the end, borrowers who are solicited to take out a new credit card on terms they do not fully understand could end up defaulting on their credit cards. Just as consumers defaulted on subprime mortgages, credit card defaults could add additional turmoil in financial markets and the economy. These problems can be nipped in the bud by creating a fairer credit card market for consumers so they can use credit wisely. With more control of their credit card accounts, borrowers will be better able to avoid the downward spiral into default.

We invite you to join us as Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) speaks about his bill that will create a five-star safety rating system for credit cards, followed by a discussion where experts share steps needed to inform Americans about the best credit card options. Panelists include a representative of the credit card industry and of government regulators of credit cards, as well as the perspective of credit card users. The event will feature the release of the paper "House of Cards," authored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, to provide background of how increased credit card debt could lead to a deeper credit crunch.

With the passage of a short-term economic stimulus package, Congress must now turn its attention to a broader multipronged Plan for Economic Recovery. Agenda item number one: a program to stem the vicious downward spiral in the housing market. More than 1% of U.S. households entered the foreclosure process last year, up by more than 75% over the previous rate. In addition to the pain caused to the affected homeowners, foreclosures affect our neighborhoods and communities. And foreclosures further depress house prices, which have plummeted by 8% from last year. How far must home values fall before we reach the bottom? Contagion from the housing crisis is drying up credit markets from prime housing to commercial paper to state and local government bonds. We face a vicious downward spiral, not just in house prices, but also in credit markets and the real economy. Could government action restore financial stability and confidence and head off a long period of real estate and community decline? If so, what steps can government take? If no action is taken now, what may the future hold?

Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Chairman Barney Frank, and a panel of housing market economists and policy experts for a discussion of the how severe the crisis may yet become and a range of policy measures that Congress is considering.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is an established technology that has proven its ability to improve our national security and boost the economy. Photovoltaics produce energy that is both domestic and emission-free, making it key to weaning the United States off our dependence on polluting fossil fuels and helping curb the effects of global warming. Solar PV also bolsters our economic security by creating more new jobs than any other energy technology.

Colorado has been a leader in developing policies to encourage investment in solar PV. This kind of leadership is instrumental in creating a policy environment friendly to solar generation, as energy policy is largely determined at the state level through laws and utility regulation. Please join us for the release of a new report from the Center for American Progress that highlights model state policies and case studies of four states, including Colorado, that have effectively developed thriving solar markets.

Super Tuesday and the Youth Vote will discuss the rise of the youth vote, its potential impact on the 2008 elections, and its impact on policy outcomes in 2008 and beyond. The panel will feature Kat Barr, director of education at Rock the Vote; Karlo Barrios Marcelo, research associate at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE); Latoia Jones, executive director of College Democrats of America; and Ethan Eilon executive director of the College Republican National Committee. The panel will be moderated by Erica Williams, the Issue Campaigns Manager at Campus Progress Action.

Human rights issues have rarely, if ever, been a principal focus of political campaigns for president or even for Congress.  Over the past few years, however, human rights questions have played a more and more central role in how the United States is perceived around the world.  One of the rationales cited by President Bush for the war in Iraq, for example, was the need to establish a democratic state in the heart of the Middle East.  The “unsigning” of the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court; the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; the denial of habeas corpus to certain prisoners; revelations regarding U.S. use of torture—all these have colored the attitude of the international community toward America and thereby implicated U.S. national interests quite directly.  Moreover, the continuing saga of unstaunched death and destruction in Darfur, Sudan, has cast a pall over the reputation of every country that has failed to stop it. 

Given the relationship, then, of human rights controversies to U.S. policy and interests—the fact, for example, that how the world regards this country can have a very direct impact upon America’s national security and the need, in light of Iraq and Darfur, to clarify when in the future the United States should commit its blood and treasure to countering regimes that abuse human rights—one might assume that human rights would have been more central to the 2008 presidential campaigns to this point than in years past. 

The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) has tracked the percentage of times candidates for president were asked questions about human rights in the presidential debates to this point in the campaign and has sought to ascertain the positions of all active candidates on seven key human rights questions.  The results of those studies will be released at a panel discussion moderated by CAPAF Senior Fellow William Schulz and including Karen DeYoung of the Washington Post, Gary Haugen of the International Justice Mission, and other commentators on human rights, politics, and the media today.

This event is co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Press.