Rep. John James called the bill “exactly why people hate Washington.” He lost anyway. His amendment, which would have let the Secretary of Transportation review and repeal the mandate later, was struck down, and in September 2024 the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, 45 to 2.
That cleared H.R. 8449 for a vote by the full House. It came 419 days after the Senate version moved out of committee, according to Radio Ink.
The bill is aimed at carmakers. It would require every vehicle made or sold in the United States to include an AM radio, free of charge, as a safety feature. Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) led it. James, a Michigan Republican, represents a district with a heavy auto manufacturing presence.
A lifeline in a disaster
The committee heard its case in a markup session chaired by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), alongside other bills on economic and energy security. Reps. Buddy Carter, Doris Matsui, Jeff Duncan and Kathy Castor all spoke in favor before the vote. Castor used her time to back the Local Radio Freedom Act as well.
Pallone drew on Superstorm Sandy. “For those of us who have experienced a natural disaster like Superstorm Sandy, we know that AM radio is an important lifeline when other forms of mass communications go out,” he said.
Curtis LeGeyt, CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, thanked the committee for recognizing AM radio’s role in public safety and urged congressional leaders to get the bill to law.
Time running short
The markup had been delayed in June by a fight over the American Privacy Rights Act, and the calendar was tightening. The bill had 262 House cosponsors and 63 in the Senate. If it did not pass before Congress adjourned for the year, it would have to be reintroduced in the next session.
The NAB released new public service announcements asking listeners to text AM to 52886 to urge their members of Congress to keep AM radio in cars.
