S315119th CongressWALLET

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Edward Markey

In Committee

Summary

Requires AM radio as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles. The bill would direct the Department of Transportation to write a rule so cars include devices that receive AM broadcasts or In Band On Channel digital AM and make those features easy for drivers to use.

Show full summary
  • Drivers and households: New passenger vehicles would offer built-in access to AM broadcasts for news, entertainment, and emergency alerts, helping preserve a widely used channel for crisis communications.
  • Automakers: Manufacturers would need to include AM-capable devices as standard equipment or, until the rule takes effect, clearly label vehicles that lack AM and not charge extra for access. Most makers would face a 2 to 3 year compliance window while manufacturers that produced 40,000 or fewer vehicles in 2022 would get at least 4 years. The rule would preempt state laws that require or restrict AM access in cars.
  • Emergency management and oversight: The Comptroller General would study how emergency alerts reach the public, consult broad stakeholders, brief Congress within 1 year, and deliver a report 180 days after that briefing. DOT, FEMA, and the FCC would also provide impact reports to Congress at least every 5 years.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Study and reports on emergency alerts

This bill would direct the GAO to study how emergency alerts reach the public, including the role of vehicles and AM radio. The GAO must brief Congress within 1 year of enactment and deliver a report within 180 days after that briefing. The study would assess whether other alert technologies can reach at least 90% of the U.S. population, including at night, and must consult many federal and nonfederal stakeholders. The Secretary of Transportation would also have to report to Congress at least once every 5 years after the vehicle-AM rule is issued about the rule's impacts and possible IPAWS technology changes.

AM radio required in new cars

This bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to write a rule, within 1 year, to make AM-capable devices standard equipment in new passenger vehicles sold or imported in the U.S. If enacted, the rule must take effect 2–3 years after it is issued, and small manufacturers (≤40,000 vehicles in 2022) would get at least 4 years. Cars made after enactment but before the rule takes effect that lack AM capability would need clear labels and manufacturers may not charge extra for AM access during that period. The rule may allow IBOC digital AM receivers but would not allow relying on all-digital AM stations. The rule and the Secretary's authority to enforce it would sunset 10 years after enactment. After enactment, states and local governments could not make or keep laws about AM access in passenger vehicles.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Edward Markey

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Ted Cruz

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Tammy Baldwin

    WI • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Jim Banks

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • John Barrasso

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Marsha Blackburn

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Richard Blumenthal

    CT • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Katie Britt

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Ted Budd

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Maria Cantwell

    WA • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Shelley Capito

    WV • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Christopher Coons

    DE • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Tom Cotton

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Kevin Cramer

    ND • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Steve Daines

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Joni Ernst

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Deb Fischer

    NE • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Chuck Grassley

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Maggie Hassan

    NH • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Josh Hawley

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Mazie Hirono

    HI • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • John Hoeven

    ND • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • James Justice

    WV • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Angus King

    ME • I

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Amy Klobuchar

    MN • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • James Lankford

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Cynthia Lummis

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Roger Marshall

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Jeff Merkley

    OR • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Jerry Moran

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Christopher Murphy

    CT • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • John Reed

    RI • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Pete Ricketts

    NE • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Mike Rounds

    SD • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Bernie Sanders

    VT • I

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Rick Scott

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Jeanne Shaheen

    NH • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Tim Sheehy

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Tina Smith

    MN • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Dan Sullivan

    AK • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Ron Wyden

    OR • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Todd Young

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Roger Wicker

    MS • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Susan Collins

    ME • R

    Sponsored 1/30/2025

  • Bernie Moreno

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/30/2025

  • Lisa Murkowski

    AK • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Markwayne Mullin

    OK • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Catherine Cortez Masto

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Jacky Rosen

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • John Boozman

    AR • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • David McCormick

    PA • R

    Sponsored 2/18/2025

  • Elizabeth Warren

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Sheldon Whitehouse

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2025

  • Mike Crapo

    ID • R

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Jon Ossoff

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • John Kennedy

    LA • R

    Sponsored 3/12/2025

  • Tommy Tuberville

    AL • R

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Ashley Moody

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2025

  • Kirsten Gillibrand

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Andy Kim

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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