Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee advanced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act on a 50-1 vote, marking a major step toward keeping AM radio standard in all new vehicles and moving the bill closer to a House floor vote. NRB was directly involved in negotiations leading up to the markup.
The revised bill reflects a negotiated compromise. The biggest change is an eight-year sunset provision—shortened from the original ten. With 302 bipartisan co-sponsors as of the time of this writing, NRB is joining others in calling for the full ten-year sunset, which better reflects the importance of preserving AM radio access for the long term. Other language in the bill remains intact.
The debate underscores two perspectives. Some automakers argue that in-car radio is no longer essential, emphasizing flexibility in how they design dashboard interfaces and manage vehicle data. On the other hand, broadcasters stress that keeping AM and FM radio as standard features remains important—not only for public safety communications during emergencies but also for ensuring diverse voices, including Christian programming, remain accessible to listeners.
Looking ahead, the bill’s Senate pathway could go a few routes: through regular order once floor time opens after nominations or via surface transportation reauthorization, where Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has expressed interest in including the legislation are two favorable options.
Bottom line: The near-term goal is to secure committee passage and a clean House floor vote. The longer-term strategy is Senate passage by any pathway, ultimately sending the legislation to the President’s desk. At stake is keeping radio in the car, protecting public safety and preserving the reach of Christian broadcasters.
For more on yesterday’s advancement, read NRB’s full release here.