The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979) has surged to unprecedented bipartisan backing in the U.S. House of Representatives, amassing more than 300 cosponsors as of December 2025, clearing the path for a potential full floor vote that could mandate AM broadcast radio as standard, no-cost equipment in all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States.
Reintroduced in February 2025 after expiring in the previous Congress, the legislation—led by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ)—advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September on a strong bipartisan vote. Its companion Senate bill (S. 315), sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA), has also garnered over 60 cosponsors and cleared committee early in the year.
The bill directs the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring AM-capable devices in vehicles manufactured or imported after the rule's effective date, with clear labeling required in the interim for any models lacking it. It also commissions a Government Accountability Office study on AM's effectiveness versus emerging alternatives for emergency communications.
Endorsements span more than 125 organizations, from emergency management groups and the American Farm Bureau to AARP and diverse broadcaster associations. Industry leaders argue the mandate preserves free, over-the-air access to news, weather, sports, and alerts without additional consumer charges.
With supermajority House support and momentum from prior near-passage in the last Congress, advocates are pressing for swift floor action before year-end, potentially sending the measure to the president's desk and ensuring AM radio's survival in the dashboard era. Automakers have raised concerns over costs and technical challenges, but the overwhelming congressional backing signals broad recognition of AM's enduring public-service value.