House Passes AM Radio Act, Here's What Happens Next

The House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act on Tuesday evening, sending the long-sought measure to the Senate.

The bipartisan bill, H.R. 979, cleared the chamber by voice vote. Companion legislation, S. 315, has sat on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders since the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reported it in early April 2025.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise scheduled the standalone vote this week after telling Salem Media host Hugh Hewitt he would pull the bill off a stalled surface transportation package. The measure had already cleared committee markups in both chambers and was briefly attached in May to Chairman Brett Guthrie’s transportation bill before a summer campaign pressed leadership for a floor vote on its own.

NAB's LeGeyt

In a statement,  NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said “Today’s decisive House passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is a significant step forward for the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio for lifesaving emergency information, trusted news and a vital connection to their communities.

"America’s broadcasters are deeply grateful to House leadership, lead cosponsors Reps. Bilirakis and Pallone and the overwhelming bipartisan coalition that made today’s vote possible. We look forward to continuing our work with the Senate bill authors and their more than 60 bipartisan cosponsors to advance this critical public safety legislation and send it to the president’s desk.”

Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) lead the House bill. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA) lead S. 315, which already has enough Senate cosponsors for a filibuster-proof majority if leadership brings it up.

The Senate returned Monday after a monthlong recess, leaving a narrow window for floor action. Senators are scheduled to leave again for a nearly complete recess covering the weeks of October 4 through November 1 ahead of the November 3 midterms, then return for only two days before Veterans Day on November 11.

If the Senate does not act before October 4, the AM radio mandate would likely wait for a post-election session in mid-November or December. Broadcasters, the NAB, state associations, and listeners nationwide had pressed Congress for years to keep AM radio accessible in new vehicles.