Committee approves AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with sunset compromise; members cite public-safety need
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Summary
The Energy and Commerce Committee approved HR 979, requiring automakers to include AM radio in passenger vehicles, adopting an amendment that set an eight-year sunset and compliance timeline after negotiation between stakeholders.
The Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance HR 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that requires passenger motor vehicles sold in the United States to include AM broadcast radio as standard equipment.
Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), the bill’s sponsor, said the requirement preserves a "lifeline" for public safety because AM signals can reach far distances when other communications fail. "AM Broadcast Radio is critical," Bilirakis said during the markup, pointing to emergency uses during storms.
Members debated technical and economic trade-offs raised by automakers and engineers. Representative Ken Obernolte (R-Calif.) argued that enforcing AM radio in next-generation electric vehicles could require costly electromagnetic interference mitigation; he cited a Center for Automotive Research estimate that compliance costs for manufacturers could be substantial. Supporters responded that the bill includes a compromise: it shortens the compliance timeline and adds an eight-year sunset to allow Congress to reassess the mandate as vehicle technology evolves. Representative Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Representative Heidi Dingle (D-Mich.) said the compromise balanced public-safety benefits and evolving automotive technology.
The committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute that implemented the eight-year sunset and set reporting and safety review requirements. On final passage, the clerk recorded 50 ayes and 1 no.
Why it matters: Committee sponsors and public-safety witnesses argued that AM radio remains the most resilient mass medium for emergency alerts in some rural and disaster-affected areas; opponents cautioned about costs and potential interference in certain EV designs.
Next steps: The committee advanced the amended bill to the House floor. Members said they expect further technical study and oversight as the Department of Transportation implements any rulemaking required by the statute.
