House Passes AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in Major Win for Public Safety

It seems like these days, I get more angry at legislation moving forward in Washington, D.C. than I get excited about the potential passage of a bill. However, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was just passed by the House of Representatives this week, and that’s something to celebrate.

Now clearly, working for WBSM and its nearly 80 years on the AM dial, I have a vested interest in AM radios remaining in new vehicles – even though I am constantly telling people it is better sound quality to listen on 99.5 FM or on the WBSM app.

However, it's not about saving my job, which would continue just fine on FM or streaming. It's about saving lives.

Why AM Radio Remains a Crucial Public Safety Lifeline

The fact is, AM radios should be in every vehicle. We need them there in case of an emergency, especially at a time when a car radio may be the only physical radio a person owns. Plus, the AM signal can spread greater distances and penetrate more easily through obstructions, two things you’ll need in the event of bad weather or a natural disaster.

Pushing Back Against Automaker Cost-Cutting

Automakers have been eliminating AM radios, however, in order to save space and cut down production costs. Electric vehicle manufacturers claim they cannot put them in their cars because of the electrical interference. As Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) previously told me in a WBSM interview, that claim doesn’t hold water when many electric vehicle manufacturers have been including AM radios with no issues.

READ MORE: New Bedford's News Talk WBSM Through the Years

Markey and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have been working together for the past few years on bipartisan and bicameral legislation to keep AM radios in new vehicles, and the most recent version of the bill, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, overwhelmingly passed in the House on Tuesday, September 15.

Not only does the bill call for AM radios to continue to be installed in new vehicles, it also says auto manufacturers or car dealers cannot charge extra for them.

Poll: Massachusetts Voters View Sen. Ed Markey Quite Favorably

“This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles,” Sen. Markey said in a release. “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 so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country.”

The Bipartisan Path to Law in Washington

In April 2025, Senators Markey and Cruz secured a filibuster-proof 60 Senate co-sponsors for the bill, and it had already passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in February 2025.

That means it is all but guaranteed to pass in the Senate, once it hits the floor for a vote. President Donald Trump has already voiced his support for the bill on multiple occasions and is sure to sign it into law once it is passed by the Senate.