The 119th Congress is in session, and that means any bill that languished in the last legislative period is dead — unless it is brought back to life in the next session.
For the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, its two main champions in the U.S. Senate have rescued the proposal from the scrap heap.
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Democratic Committee Member Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Wednesday reintroduced the act that would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.
In a prepared statement, Cruz said, “During weather disasters or power outages, AM radio is consistently the most reliable form of communication and is critical to keep millions of Texans safe. AM radio has long been a haven for people to express differing viewpoints, allowing free speech and our robust democratic process to flourish for decades. I am honored to once again partner with Sen. Markey on this bipartisan legislation on behalf of our constituents who depend on AM radio and public airwaves for access to news, music, talk, and emergency alerts.”
Markey added, “As we witness more tragic climate change-induced disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles, broadcast AM radio continues to be a critical tool for communication. AM radio is a lifeline for people across the country for news, sports, and especially emergency information,” said Senator Markey. “Tens of millions of listeners across the country have made clear that they want AM radio to remain in their vehicles. Our AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act heeds their words and ensures that this essential tool doesn’t get lost on the dial.”
The legislation enjoys a diverse array of bi-partisan co-sponsors in the Senate. They include Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).
In May 2023, Senators Markey and Cruz led their colleagues in the upper body of Congress in introducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, first shared in the House of Representatives by New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer. The legislation passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2023 and passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September 2024. However, it did not advance in the last Congress after Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, raised concerns over an AM radio mandate as government subsidies to electric vehicle manufacturers continued.
Enforcement would involve a civil penalty. An interim requirement for “clear and conspicuous labeling” should AM radio not be present in the vehicle is included in the language of the reintroduced legislation.
The NAB “is deeply grateful to Chairman Cruz and Sen. Markey, along with their bipartisan cosponsors, for reintroducing legislation to ensure that AM radio remains readily accessible in all vehicles,” said NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “Time and again, AM radio has proven itself as an irreplaceable resource in emergencies, keeping families safe and communities informed when every second counts. Further, its diversity of programming and reach remain unique amongst all audio media. We urge Congress to move quickly to pass this important legislation and ensure Americans continue to benefit from this free life-saving service.”
To read the text of the newly introduced Senate bill, please click here.
