THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT

I commend General Motors Corporation on its pledge today to improve the fuel efficiency of its full-size pickup trucks and buses. This effort provides further evidence that we can protect our environment even as we create jobs and spur economic growth.

The key hybrid technologies which helped make this breakthrough possible were developed in part under the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program, a public-private partnership we forged with Daimler-Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford to achieve just the sort of progress announced today.

Today's important announcement is the second recent pledge by a major automaker to increase fuel economy partly through technologies developed under PNGV. These technologies will improve gas mileage, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create a cleaner environment.

In addition to PNGV, I announced earlier this year a similar effort with major truck manufacturers -- the 21st Century Trucks Initiative -- to improve fuel economy and environmental standards for heavier commercial vehicles. We will work closely with industry leaders to make even more progress.

And we can do more. Unfortunately, Congress has refused to act on our package of consumer tax incentives -- including credits of up to $4,000 for consumers to purchase the next generation of fuel efficient vehicles. Today, I once again call on Congress to pass these tax incentives and to fully fund a PNGV program that is clearly delivering real benefits for the American people.

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