Revelations that the NSA has been conducting a warrantless domestic surveillance program outside the framework established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act have caused many to conclude that the President has acted unlawfully. Recent testimony by the Attorney General before the Senate Judiciary Committee did little to explain the scope of the program or to allay concerns about an unchecked expansion of Executive Power. The panel, which has extensive experience in these issues, will explore what we know about the program, its lawfulness and the role that Congress should play in addressing the surveillance program and restoring checks and balances to our constitutional system.

Whether seen as model minorities, dragon ladies, or submissive concubines, Asian and Pacific Islander women confront numerous stereotypes that mask their real-life problems. One issue in particular that is often overlooked by policymakers, the media, and the public is their reproductive health. Issues as varied as immigration status, human trafficking, sex selection, employment conditions, domestic violence, environmental toxins, and globalization impact the health care they receive and the reproductive decisions they make. Please join us for a panel discussion of some of these issues in an effort to draw attention to the unmet needs of this diverse community.

On the eve of the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion, Iraq is teetering on the brink of sectarian civil war. The recent bomb attack on a sacred Shiite shrine in Samarra set off a cycle of brutal violence that continues to threaten stability in Iraq. Iraqi political leaders remain divided over who should form a new Iraqi government. Nearly three months into 2006, the year that the U.S. Senate deemed as a "period of significant transition" for Iraq, the United States faces difficult choices about how to best advance its national security interests. To explore these complicated questions, the Center for American Progress has invited a distinguished group of experts to discuss the situation in Iraq, the impact of the war on the U.S. military, and the next steps for U.S. policy.

Few can imagine America without a strong and growing middle class, but today many wonder how the middle class is really faring. Are typical American families doing better than a generation ago? Do they have real opportunities to build a richer life for themselves and their children? Do they enjoy some security or instead live on the edge of economic ruin? A distinguished group, progressive and conservative, will offer a diversity of perspectives on the state of America' s middle class and appropriate policy responses.

A full-day conference with academic and policy experts from around the country who will highlight options for reforming the tax code. Many experts agree that the tax code is in need of repair. Yet it has been 20 years since the landmark 1986 reform. Given the growing complexity of the tax code, increased revenue pressures, and a changing economy; tax reform will likely be a central issue for 2006 and beyond. The conference will provide a forum for sharing proposals-both quick fixes and broad overhaul-and for open and engaged discussion.