By David Shepardson and Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Prominent business leaders in the United States expressed their support for President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion climate spending bill. This is despite it facing uncertain future in Congress.

Still, the White House wants to get approval for $500 billion more to combat climate change and increase electric cars. There are also hundreds of billions for social safety spending such as universal preschool and paid family leave.

At a White House meeting President Brad Smith stated that “I give a full-throated endorsement to the climate provisions”. He also said that the United States must do more to attract more Americans to the workplace. “People can only return to work if there is a way for them to care for their children.

Smith praised the bill for its emphasis on job training as well as efforts to improve child care. Smith also appreciated aspects of this bill that would help to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel.

General Motors (NYSE 🙂 CEO Mary Barra pointed out that Detroit Automaker makes large investments in EVs, and the proposal must contain key provisions to “uncap EV credits”.

Tom Linebarger CEO at Cummings stated that Cummings is committed to clean technology.

We can’t do this alone. He stated that tax credits are needed in the Build back Better Act for clean cars and hydrogen.

Biden proposes to increase the existing $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit from $7,500 to as high as $12,500 for U.S.-made vehicles union-made and to create $4,000 credits for vehicles used. After they reach the 200,000 vehicle cap for the $7,500 credit, the bill will again allow GM and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:) Inc to receive tax credits.

Foreign automakers have criticized the $4,500 union credit for electric vehicles.

A 30% credit is also included in the bill for commercial electric cars. Build Back Better will allocate $3.5B to convert U.S. plants for the production of electric or fuel-cell vehicles, and revitalize incentives that could produce $3.7B for auto communities by 2031.

Barra declared Wednesday, “It’s vital that we have (EV Manufacturing) in the United States.” Separate funding of $52 billion for semiconductor production was deemed “a national imperative”.