Photo Credit: Miguel Alcântara
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is scheduled for a standalone floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives during the week of September 14.
On Thursday, a report from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) revealed that U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has scheduled the ‘AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act’ for a standalone floor vote during the week of September 14.
The announcement not only curbs concerns that the legislation might end up sidelined until a lame-duck session post-election or attached to broader transportation legislation but also suggests that the bill may finally have the support its advocates have been working toward.
“Our listeners have made their voices heard loud and clear: AM radio is an indispensable lifeline during emergencies, a trusted source of news and information, and a vital connection for communities nationwide,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “Now is the time to finish the job.”
The legislation would require the secretary of transportation to conduct a rule-making proceeding to be completed in one year that mandates AM receivers to be included in all vehicles sold in the U.S. as a standard feature without extra cost to buyers. The bill has 317 co-sponsors in the House and 61 in the Senate.
“Our energy has been focused on pushing for a floor vote through the House Suspension Calendar, and we’re talking directly with the White House and House leadership to make that case, to move it now and not later,” said Nic Anderson, Director of Government Affairs for Salem Media Group and VP of Public Policy for the National Religious Broadcasters.
Anderson cautioned that should automakers be permitted to omit AM radio simply because it is cheaper or easier, the same logic could eventually be applied to FM radio and threaten the future of free broadcast radio in vehicles.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was reintroduced in the current (119th) Congress after the previous legislative cycle ended without a floor vote despite broad bipartisan support. The 119th Congress concludes its session at the end of the year.