Wednesday morning, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The proposed legislation, which would ensure that consumers can maintain access to AM radio in new vehicles sold in the U.S., can now move forward for a full Senate vote. Just hours after the Senate committee finalized its vote, the bill was also reintroduced in the House.
The legislation was previously passed by the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2023 and the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September 2024, and many legislators have expressed support. Yet backers could not get it across the finish line at the end of the recent Congress in December.
Senators Ed Markey, a Democrat, and Ted Cruz, a Republican, reintroduced the bill just last Wednesday, Jan. 29, with 40 Senate co-sponsors.
[Related: “Markey, Cruz Reintroduce AM Bill in the Senate“]
Following the Senate committee’s passage of the AM bill, Markey and Cruz released a joint statement applauding the move.
“Today’s vote to advance the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act broadcasts a clear message to car manufacturers that AM radio is an essential communication tool for millions of Americans across the country,” read the statement. “From emergency response to sports, entertainment and news, AM radio is a lifeline that must be protected. Our bill ensures that no one is cut off from their communities and that AM radio stays a part of our constituents’ daily lives.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also weighed in on the legislation, saying millions of Americans depend on AM radio and local news to support their communities.
“Just last week, I visited parts of North Carolina that had been hit hard by Hurricane Helene, and I heard firsthand the stories of people that could only access lifesaving information in the days following the storm by tuning their radios to the AM band,” wrote Carr in his statement. “By ensuring that AM radios remain in new vehicles, [Carr and Cruz’s] legislation will help keep this linchpin of our emergency response system in place and also ensure that Americans can continue to access relevant news, information and entertainment programming. I hope the full Senate can move this bill forward quickly.”
In a divisive political climate, where the media landscape is being more closely scrutinized under a new administration, this is one of the few bills that can claim bipartisan support from both the FCC and Congress.
The National Association of Broadcasters has also long been a steward of the legislation. On Wednesday, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement: “In just one week since its introduction, this legislation has already gained nearly half of the Senate as cosponsors and cleared a key committee, demonstrating the broad recognition of AM radio’s vital role in keeping Americans informed and safe.
“AM radio is the backbone of the Emergency Alert System, providing a resilient and reliable communications lifeline,” LeGeyt continued. “We urge the full Senate to move quickly to pass this legislation to ensure AM radio remains accessible to all Americans.”
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-6) reintroduced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in the House Wednesday afternoon.
According to the NAB, in the last Congress, the House committee advanced the bill by a decisive 45-2 vote, and it garnered the support from more than 250 House members and 125 third-party organizations.
