AM Radio To Become Mandatory on Cars in the United States

AM Radio To Become Mandatory on Cars in the United States

AM radio is inching closer to becoming a legal requirement on every single car sold in the United States. On September 16, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, a bipartisan bill that would force automakers to include AM radio tuners in all passenger cars at no extra cost. To officially become law, the bill must still clear the U.S. Senate and be signed by the President. The bill... (co…

US House of Representatives votes to require AM radio in all new cars.

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — US House of Representatives votes to require AM radio in all new cars. From an X post: “Joint statement from Chairman @SenTedCruz and @Sen…

US House of Representatives passes act mandating free AM radio in every vehicle

H.R. 979 directs the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish a rule making AM radio standard equipment in new passenger vehicles.

Legislation would protect AM radio access

By Jessica Domel Multimedia Reporter Legislation that ensures Americans continue to have free access to news, weather, entertainment and emergency alerts via AM radio has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act cleared the House in a voice vote Tuesday evening. The legislation requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring

House Passes Bill Requiring AM Radio in New Cars, Sending Bipartisan Measure to Senate

The House has approved legislation that would require automakers to include AM radio in new passenger vehicles at no additional cost to buyers, moving the bipartisan proposal one step closer to becoming federal law. The measure now goes to the Senate, where a companion bill has attracted substantial support from both parties. The House passed H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, by voice vote on Tuesday. Under the legislation, the Department of Transportation would be directed to establish a federal requirement that new passenger vehicles sold in the United States provide consumers with access to AM broadcast stations as standard equipment, without requiring an extra payment, fee or surcharge. The Senate received the House bill Wednesday, where it was read twice and placed on the Senate calendar. The proposal has drawn extensive bipartisan backing in the House, with more than 300 lawmakers signing on as cosponsors. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., introduced the House legislation, with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., serving as its original cosponsor. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who was among those who pushed an earlier version of the proposal, argued that keeping AM radio in vehicles is particularly important when other communications systems fail during an emergency. “AM radio is a lifeline,” Gottheimer said following House passage. “When the power goes out, when the cell towers go down, and when the Internet cuts off during a storm or an emergency, AM radio is often the only way families can get the life-saving information they need.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., similarly pointed to the role AM broadcasting can play when hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters disrupt ordinary communications. “When disaster strikes – especially in hurricane and tornado-prone states like Louisiana – local communities rely on AM radio to deliver accurate, up-to-date information and critical safety alerts,” Johnson said. If the measure becomes law, the transportation secretary would have one year from enactment to issue the required rule. In most cases, the mandate would take effect within two years after the rule is issued, while certain smaller vehicle manufacturers would receive at least four years to meet the requirement. During the period before the mandate fully takes effect, automakers selling vehicles that do not offer AM reception would be required to clearly inform prospective buyers. Manufacturers would also be prohibited from imposing an additional charge for access to AM radio. The congressional effort follows decisions by several automakers to eliminate AM receivers from certain vehicles, particularly electric models. Manufacturers have cited electromagnetic interference from electric motors and high-voltage components as one reason for dropping the technology. Automotive industry groups have opposed making AM reception a federal requirement. They argue that motorists can receive emergency information through other systems, including wireless emergency alerts, FM broadcasting and satellite radio. With House passage complete, the legislation’s next hurdle is the Senate, where lawmakers from both parties have also rallied behind the effort. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., have spearheaded the Senate version of the legislation. Their companion measure, S. 315, cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in February 2025, and the senators announced two months later that the proposal had secured 60 Senate cosponsors. After the House approved H.R. 979, Cruz and Markey jointly called on the Senate to move ahead with the measure. “This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles,” the senators said in a joint statement. “From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans.” “It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law,” they added. Despite the broad bipartisan support, the Senate has not yet held final floor action on the House-passed legislation. As of Sept. 16, H.R. 979 had been read twice in the Senate and placed on its legislative calendar, leaving Senate passage as the next step before the measure could be sent to President Donald Trump for consideration. {Matzav.com}