[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     BELLEVUE COMPANY, PACCAR, RECEIVED NATION'S HIGHEST HONOR FOR 
                       INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2006

  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in praise of PACCAR, Inc., a 
Bellevue, Washington company that recently received the National Medal 
of Technology from the President of the United States. Today PACCAR 
celebrates the National Medal of Technology and last year PACCAR 
celebrated its 100th year. It's not often a company can top the kind of 
year that 2005 was for PACCAR, but somehow they've managed to, and in 
only two months.
  I was proud to witness our President bestow the highest honor in 
technology and innovation upon PACCAR, ``For [their] pioneering efforts 
and industry leadership in the development and commercialization of 
aerodynamic, lightweight trucks that have dramatically reduced fuel 
consumption and increased the productivity of U.S. freight 
transportation.''
  Washington's eighth Congressional District is home to many companies 
that are industry leaders, and I am so pleased to see one recognized at 
this level. PACCAR makes me proud, the State of Washington proud and 
the United States of America proud. As it has moved forward in its 
quest to increase productivity and reduce fuel consumption, PACCAR has 
embodied the spirit of innovation that has put America on the forefront 
of science and technology for most of the previous century.
  Before the introduction of the Kenworth T600 model in 1985, the term 
``aerodynamic truck'' would be considered an oxymoron. Today the legacy 
and influence of the T600 is apparent in the design of virtually every 
make of truck on the highway. The benefit to the truck buyer, the 
consumer, the economy, and the environment has been a dramatic 
reduction in fuel consumption, reduced CO2 emissions, 
improved highway safety through reductions in splash and spray, and 
lower cost of delivery for the goods that help fuel our Nation's 
economy.
  While much of the industry pondered the feasibility of ever breaking 
the 10-mile-per-gallon barrier with a heavy-duty truck, Kenworth and 
Peterbilt both achieved that goal with their most aerodynamic and fuel-
efficient tractor-trailer combinations in real-world, cross-country 
tests. Achieving significant improvements in fuel economy was not 
without market risk and required changing what a heavy-duty 
``conventional'' truck was supposed to look like. Initial misgivings 
about what some perceived as radical styling departures, were soon 
muted as customers realized the economic benefits of the new designs.
  In the last 5 years alone, PACCAR has been widely praised. PACCAR was 
named one of the Top 50 Companies by Business Week magazine in 1999, 
2000 and 2004 and Industry Week magazine named it one of the Top 50 
Manufacturing Companies in the U.S.A. in 2005. The Wall Street Journal 
listed it on its Shareholder Return Honor Roll in both 2003 and 2004. 
PACCAR was designated the #1 International Company by the Stevie Awards 
in 2003 and #1 in Enterprise Management by Computerworld in 2004.
  I wish PACCAR well as they begin their next hundred years of 
innovation and invention. PACCAR is a company that knows what it takes 
to succeed, and also to make this world better. I am honored to stand 
here today commending their achievements, and I am eager to see what 
they do next. Congratulations to everyone on the PACCAR team. This 
medal is an acknowledgment of all that you have done and worked for and 
a belief that your best work is yet to come.

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