After years of lobbying, hundreds of House co-sponsors and a summer spent pressing congressional leadership, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act finally has a floor date.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (pictured, top left) has scheduled a standalone vote, and it is scheduled for the week of September 14, the NAB said in a statement distributed early Thursday evening.
The legislation would require automakers to include AM radio as standard equipment in new vehicles, including electric models.
Known as H.R. 979 in the House and S. 315 in the U.S. Senate, the act is today led by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) in the House, where New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer first brought the earliest version of the legislation to life in past Congressional sessions.
In the Senate, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) are co-sponsors.
The support of Big Guns on Capitol Hill helped in bringing a significant amount of bipartisan support to the act. That said, it was uncertain if getting a full floor vote in the House would transpire. With combined House and Senate co-sponsorship topping 370 as of late July, the upcoming yay or nay for the full House of Representatives is a monumental moment for Radio … and for the NAB.
That association’s President/CEO, Curtis LeGeyt, issued a statement late Thursday. He said, “America’s broadcasters applaud House Majority Leader Steve Scalise for his announcement to bring the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to the House floor for a standalone vote the week of Sept. 14. This is an important step forward for legislation that has earned overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and across the country. We are grateful to House leadership and lead cosponsors Reps. Bilirakis and Pallone and Sens. Cruz and Markey, along with hundreds of lawmakers from both parties whose persistence and leadership have brought us to this moment. Our listeners have also made their voices heard loud and clear: AM radio is an indispensable lifeline during emergencies, a trusted source of news and information, and a vital connection for communities nationwide. Now is the time to finish the job. We urge every member of the House to vote to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and preserve access to this essential public safety resource in every vehicle.”
Passage would cap a multi-year push that has included committee markups in both chambers, a government-shutdown-related delay last fall, and a summer campaign urging House leadership to schedule floor time before this Congress runs out of legislative days.
Review RBR+TVBR’s coverage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in our archives by clicking here.
