The Senate Commerce Committee passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act that would grant the Secretary of Transportation the ability to mandate auto manufacturers continue to place AM Radio into new vehicles.
The bill, which was introduced in May, will now head to the entire Senate for a vote on its passage. Earlier this week, NAB CEO/President Curtis LeGeyt said he believed the bill would be complete by this fall.
In a statement, the NAB shared their pleasure in the bill’s advancement.
“NAB applauds today’s Senate Commerce Committee passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. This legislation will ensure that the tens of millions of AM radio listeners across the country retain access to local news, diverse community programming and emergency information,” the statement read. “Moreover, this legislation enables AM radio’s continued role as the backbone of the nation’s Emergency Alert System.
“We thank Sens. Markey and Cruz, Chair Cantwell, and the bipartisan cosponsors of this bill for their leadership to safeguard AM radio’s pivotal role in keeping the public informed when disaster strikes. We urge swift passage of this important legislation.”
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) was the lone Senator in opposition to the bill’s passage.
