The AM for Every Vehicle Act, a bill aimed at preserving AM radio in new vehicles, has moved out of committee and is expected to be passed by the end of the year, according to New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer. The bill, which has at least 260 co-sponsors, will require all new cars, including electric vehicles, to have AM radio. This comes in response to several automakers removing AM radio from their electric vehicles.
The bipartisan legislation is led in the House by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, along with co-leads Reps. Tom Kean, Jr., Rob Menendez, Bruce Westerman, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. In the Senate, the bill is led by Senators Edward J. Markey and Ted Cruz.
According to Gottheimer, AM radio is crucial for information sharing, especially during emergencies, and serves as a national public warning system. He criticized automakers, including Tesla, for removing AM radio from their vehicles, stating that it puts public safety and emergency response at risk.
The bill has received support from various sectors, including the agricultural industry, which relies heavily on AM radio for news and emergency updates. The National Farmers Union President, Rob Larew, emphasized the importance of AM radio for rural America and encouraged listeners to reach out to their lawmakers in support of the bill.
The Department of Transportation is prepared to implement the legislation once it is passed. The bill has also garnered public support, with more than 400,000 emails, letters, and social media posts directed to Senators and Representatives.