WASHINGTON - Today, new bipartisan legislation is being announced in the House -the AM for Every Vehicle Act - to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in new vehicles at no additional charge. Out of 20 of the world’s leading carmakers, eight have removed AM broadcast radio from their electric vehicles.
Congressman Bruce Westerman is co-leading the AM for Every Vehicle Act in the House along with Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Kean (NJ-07), Rob Menendez (NJ-8), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). The AM for Every Vehicle Act is being led in the Senate by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX).The bipartisan, bicameral AM for Every Vehicle Act will:
Direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a rule that requires automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their vehicles without a separate or additional payment, fee, or surcharge;
Require any automaker that sells vehicles without access to AM broadcast radio before the effective date of the NHTSA rule to clearly disclose to consumers that the vehicle lacks access to AM broadcast radio; and,
Direct the Government Accountability Office to study whether alternative communication systems could fully replicate the reach and effectiveness of AM broadcast radio for alerting the public to emergencies.
The bill text of the AM for Every Vehicle Act can be found here.
“Radio plays an essential role in our country. Many Arkansans rely on AM broadcast radio for breaking news and entertainment as they make their daily commutes, especially in rural areas where constituents spend a lot of time in their vehicles. In the case of severe weather, something Arkansas is no stranger to, AM radio is critical in updating the public to assure their safety," said Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04). With this bill, we're protecting AM broadcast radio by ensuring that automakers continue providing AM radio in new vehicles, cannot impose unnecessary fees or surcharges that would prevent Americans from accessing these vital services in their vehicles, and clearly indicate if any vehicle lacks AM radio capability.”
“I would think that if Elon Musk has enough money to buy Twitter and send rockets to space, he can afford to include AM radio in his Teslas. Instead, Elon Musk and Tesla and other car manufacturers are putting public safety and emergency response at risk,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “The importance of AM radio during large-scale emergencies cannot be underestimated, and it has, without a doubt and without interruption, saved lives and kept our communities informed. When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your AM radio. I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan AM for Every Vehicle Act in the House to ensure that all auto manufacturers include AM radio in their vehicles to protect public safety.”
“As more and more Americans adopt electric vehicles, we must ensure that they are equipped with AM radio,” said Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “AM radio is - and will remain - an essential communications channel for emergency alerts and for disseminating news and other important information to residents of our district and communities across our country. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation which would ensure that EVs continue to be equipped with this basic but critical capability.”
“Southwest Washington, especially our rural communities, relies on AM radio to stay informed during emergencies, and automakers removing AM radio from their cars just to save a few bucks puts people at risk. This is yet another example of how newer cars are being put out of reach for working families in rural America,” said Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). “This bipartisan bill will make sure AM radio remains accessible in new vehicles and that consumers are fully informed about whether or not AM radio is available in older models. Thank you to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for taking action on this issue to keep people safe.”