Karine good afternoon, everybody. Thank you. So i want to start by addressing some devastating and alarming news from the arizona Supreme Court. With todays decision, millions of arizonans will soon face an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban than they did before. This arizona law which was initially enacted in 1864, more than 150 years ago, fails to protect women even when their health is at risk. Or in horrific cases of rape or incest. There are now 21 extreme state abortion bans in effect across the country. 1 3 of all women of we productive age now live in a state with an abortion ban. All of these bans, including the one upheld today, that was upheld by the arizona Supreme Court, are a direct result of the Supreme Court overturning roe v. Wade. When the president s preds isors handicapped three Supreme Court justices to overturn roe v. Wade, it paveed the way for the chaos and confusion we are seeing play out across the country today. President biden and Vice President harris will continue to stand with the vast majority of americans who support a womans right to choose. They will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights and call on congress to pass a law restoring the protections of roe v. Wade for women in every state. On the topic of health care, you just heard from the president earlier today, he marked care workers recognition month by joining care workers, union members, and advocates to highlight his administrations work to make care more affordable for american families. Support family caregivers, boost compensation, and job quality for care workers, and expand care options. To the first ever care signed by President Biden just last year, as well as through the American Rescue plan antichampionships and science act, the bipartisan the Bidenharris Administration is marking transformational investment in childcare, home care, paid family and medical leave, and tax cuts for workers and families. And the president s plan would pay for these investments and working families by making billionaires and the biggest corporations pay their fair share. That is sharp contrast with Congressional Republicans who released a budget that would make devastating cuts and funding for childcare, head start, social security, medicaid, medicare, all to pay for massive tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. Care workers play an essential role in our economy and President Biden will never stop fighting for them. Finally today the president spoke with uconn coach dan hurley and congratulated him on last nights championship. The uconn huskies had an incredible year which culminated in a series of dominant performances in the ncaa tournament. Uconn is the first team to win backtoback championships in the mens bracket since the university of florida accomplished this feat in 2006 and 2007. We also congratulated coach dawn staley and the university of South Carolina on their undefeated season and national championship. The womans tournament featured fantastic games and generated record ratings. It was really a march madness to remember. We congratulate the university of South Carolina, uconn, and the athletes on their victories. With that as you can see we have the National Security advisor Jake Sullivan who is here to speak about the japanese japan state visit happening starting today. An also talk and also talk about the developments around the world. Jake. Jake thank you, karine. Thanks, everybody. Ive got some opening comments on the japan state visit and a couple of other topics. Then be happy to take questions. Starting this evening the president and first lady will welcome Prime Minister and his wife to the white house for an official visit and state dinner. From the very outset of the biden administration, we focused on reinvesting in and reinvigorating our alliances. And nowhere has the strength and vibrancy of that strategy been on display more than in the indopacific and especially with japan. The two leaders, President Biden and Prime Minister met nearly a dozen times over the past three years. In tokyo and washington and in cities around the world. This official state visit will build on the immense progress between our two nations we have made towards creating a safer and more secure indopacific, as well as mutual prosperity for our peoples. Over the course of the visit, the president and Prime Minister will highlight the high ambition of our alliance. Yes, in the defense and technology space, but also across the board. Deepening our partnerships on space, technology, economic investment, fighting climate change, coordinating global diplomacy, and strengthening our peopletopeople ties. Ill briefly touch on some of what you can expect the two leaders to announce. They will announce measures to enhance our defense and Security Cooperation to enable greater coordination and integration of our forces and ensure that they are postured and linked to other likeminded partners. There will be major deliverables on space as we lead the way on Space Exploration and returning to the moon. There will be announcements of Significant Research partnerships between our leading institutions on critical and emerging technologies such as a. I. , quantum, semiconductors, and clean energy. All of this will strengthen our economic ties and Economic Security as we announce significant commercial deals as part of the state visit. Japan is one of the largest providers of economic assistance and budget support to u crane. One of the largest investors in development and infrastructure in Southeast Asia and the pacific islands. This visit will highlight japans continued role and global diplomacy and development and the coordination the u. S. And japan have together with significant deliverables on globe assistance and investment both inside and outside the indopacific. And well also announce new initiatives to further foster our cultural connections and promote ties between current change makers and future generations of leaders. Following the important visit that Prime Minister is initiating this evening and carry through tomorrow, President Biden will welcome president march coast of the philippines to the white house on thursday for his second bilateral meeting at the white house in as many years. President biden will also host the first ever try lateral triharm leader summit between the United States, japan, and the philippines. The u. S. , japan, and philippines are three closely aligned democracy with strategy objectives and interests. Just this past week our three countries and australia held joint naval drills in the south china sea. When i met with my japanese and filipino counterparts in tokyo last june, we agreed to enhance our nations Trilateral Partnership and this week is a culmination of months of effort since that meeting in tokyo last june. The three leaders will announce new initiatives to enhance energy security, economic and maritime cooperation, partnerships on technology and cybersecurity, and joint investments in critical infrastructure. With this first ever leaders trilateral we are continuing to deepen our cooperation with our closest partners to ensure what we have talked about many times from this podium and elsewhere, a free, open, and prosperous indopacific. Over the past three years, the president has achieved historic breakthroughs across the region. Across the indo pa seufpblgt hes launched aukus, brought the u. S. Japan to new heights. Upgraded relation was vietnam and indonesia. And hosted two Pacific Islander summits. We look forward to adding another momentous chapter to this story with both the state visit that the Prime Minister has embarked upon and this tri lateral meeting among the u. S. , japan, and the philippines. I also want to take a moment before going to your questions to address the events of april 5 in quito, ecuador. We condemn this violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, including the use of force against embassy officials. We reviewed the Security Camera footage from the Mexican Embassy and believe these actions are wrong. The ecuadorian government disregarded its obligations under International Law as a host state to respect Diplomatic Missions and jeopardize the tkpoupb tpo upbdation of basic diplomatic norms and relationships. We asked ecuador to work with mexico to find a resolution to this dispute, to that end we welcome the organization of american states Permanent Council meeting this week to help reach a peaceful diplomatic solution. Finally, let me Say Something on an important issue thats moving through the house this week. Reauthorization of 702 of fisa. The administration strongly supports the bipartisan bill whose text is now with the rules committee to reauthorize this essential Intelligence Authority and other fisa provisions before they would expire on april 19. If we lost 702, we would lose vital insight into precisely the threats americans expect us in government to sigh and counter identify and counter. Fentanyl supply chains bringing deadly drugs into american communities, hostile governments recruitment of spies in our myth, tkrapbs transnational repression, adversaries attempts to illicitly acquire sensitive dual use and military commodities and technology. Ransomware attacks against Major American Companies and nonprofits. Russian war crimes, and more. So to protect the American People we need to maintain this vital Collection Authority while strengthening its protective guardrails with the most robust set of reforms ever included in legislation to reauthorize section 702. This bill does that. For these same reasons the administration strongly opposes the amendment we anticipate being offered that would rebuild the wall around and thus block access to already lawfully collected information in the possession of the u. S. Government. The amendment, if it looks like what we have seen before, would prohibit u. S. Officials from reviewing critical information that the Intelligence Community has already lawfully collected with only exceptions that are exceedingly narrow and unworkable in practice. Our intelligence, defense, and Public Safety communities are united. The extent that harms of this proposal cannot be mitigated so the administration strongly opposes the amendment. We strongly support the underlying bipartisan bill whose text is now with the rules committee. With that, i would be happy to take your questions. Reporter reserving judgment on the idea on the killing of the world central aid workers. Why is this review taking so long . Jake first, that report just came out last week. And what i have done is asked an Interagency Team of experts who actually have knowledge of the humanitarian operational other elements of this to look at the circumstances, to look at the findings of the report. And then come up with judgments as a result of that. This isnt a formal process. Its an informal review. As we gain some judgments from that, well be prepared to share them with you. That process is under way now. Reporter how long will it take . Jake i cant tell you. Reporter could you update us where things stand on the latest who is apbg negotiations . Is any Real Progress being made . I think hamas rejected the latest proposal . Are both sides making the concessions necessary . Jake as you know bill burns was in cairo on sunday. There was a marathon session that went late into night among the United States, qatar, and egypt. Qatar has communicating with mass. We have seen israel take steps forward in terms of what they are putting on the table. Of course we have seen public statements from hamas that have been, shall we say, less than encouraging. I spoke with the Prime Minister of qatar this morning, he does not yet have an answer from hamas. I pressed him to try to secure an answer from them as soon as possible. And when we have more to report on that front we will report it to you. Reporter two things. Prime minister netanyahu says he has a date for the rafah operation. Will the administration take any action over strict military support for israel if netanyahu leans forward . Jake if he has a date he hasnt shared it with us. I have seen his Public Comments. Im not going to comment on hypotheticals. I will state here what i stated the last time i was here which is the United States does not believe that a massive Ground Invasion of rafah where 1. 3 or more Million People are sheltering having been pushed out of other parts of gaza now destroyed into the area where humanitarian assistance comes in. This is not the best way forward. There are better ways to go after hamas. We presented those ways to our israeli counterparts. There have been Ongoing Technical talks between our team since then. I anticipate well have another opportunity at senior levels to engage them in rafah and that conversation will stay ongoing. Then we will make determinations about how we spread based on how those conversations unfold. Reporter to follow up on that. The u. S. Is not even being looped in on the date for when this military operation is set to take place, why do you think the u. S. Has any influence in those upcoming meetings to change israels strategy . Jake first of all when you talk about looped in. Prime minister makes public statements. He also talks to us in private about aspects of operations. About their thinking with respect to rafah in some considerable detail. I sat in the situation room not long ago in a secure videoconference that went on for hours going into specifics on this. I cant speak to every Public Comment he makes. What i can tell you is we have open channels of communication with the israelis on these issues. They are understand our position. We have been very clear about our deep and abiding concerns about a rafah operation and our belief that there are better ways to deal with the strategy threat hamas poses than some of the ideas that have been put forward. And further belief that any kind of plan to protect civilians in a serious way in rafah, thats something we have yet to see be presented to us. So our concerns continue. Now we will have to wait and see what happens. The United States will respond accordingly. Reporter the Israeli Government purchase 40,000 tanks ahead of the invasion of rafah. Has the u. S. Any sort of evacuation plan . Jake as i said in the answer to the last question. I have not yet seen a credible and executable plan to move people that any level of detail about how you not only house, feed, and provide provide phedmedicine for those t sanitation, water, and other basic services. We have not seen that. Reporter do you think that would be sufficient . More needed . Jake im not going to stand up here and substitute for the judgment of humanitarian experts who could speak to what precisely on the shelter front as well as all these other fronts i just described would be sufficient. I just cant react in real time to news reports like that. Reporter on the japan visit tomorrow, the president has said to u. S. Steelkeave your back. What is his message to the Prime Minister tomorrow about acquisition of u. S. Steel, how strongly will the president conte valentines day his opposition convey his opposition and will there be specific things that the president will either urge the Prime Minister to do or will say hes willing to take to prevent an acquisition . Jake you guys know joe biden. You have seen him. Hes been very clear hes going to stand up for american workers. Defend their interests. Hes also been very clear that he is going to make sure we are going to leave this White House Briefing to take you life to the house floor for votes. 6655