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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, committees such as Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, members such as Brett Guthrie.
Issued
September 15, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 979) to require the Secretary
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 979
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle
Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.—The term “Administrator” means the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Am broadcast band.—The term “AM broadcast band”
means the band of frequencies between 535 kilohertz and 1705
kilohertz, inclusive.
(3) Am broadcast station.—The term “AM broadcast
station” means a radio broadcast station—
(A) licensed by the Federal Communications Commission for
the dissemination of radio communications intended to be
received by the public; and
(B) operated on a channel in the AM broadcast band.
(4) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term
“appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives;
(D) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives; and
(E) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(5) Automated driving system.—The term “automated driving
system” means a system that meets the definition of Level 3,
Level 4, or Level 5 automation as those terms are defined in
the April 2021 edition of the J3016 recommended practice of
SAE International, “Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms
Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor
Vehicles”.
(6) Comptroller general.—The term “Comptroller General”
means the Comptroller General of the United States.
(7) Device.—The term “device” means a piece of equipment
or an apparatus that is designed—
(A) to receive signals transmitted by a radio broadcast
station; and
(B) to play back content or programming derived from those
signals.
(8) Digital audio am broadcast station.—
(A) In general.—The term “digital audio AM broadcast
station” means an AM broadcast station that uses an In Band
On Channel DAB System (as defined in section 73.402 of title
47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation))
for broadcasting purposes.
(B) Exclusion.—The term “digital audio AM broadcast
station” does not include an All-digital AM station (as
defined in section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)).
(9) Ipaws.—The term “IPAWS” means the public alert and
warning system of the United States described in section 526
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321o).
(10) Manufacturer.—The term “manufacturer” has the
meaning given the term in section 30102(a) of title 49,
United States Code.
(11) Passenger motor vehicle.—The term “passenger motor
vehicle” has the meaning given the term in section 32101 of
title 49, United States Code.
(12) Radio broadcast station.—The term “radio broadcast
station” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(13) Radio station license.—The term “radio station
license” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(14) Receive.—The term “receive” means to receive a
broadcast signal via over-the-air transmission.
(15) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(16) Signal.—The term “signal” means radio frequency
energy that a holder of a radio station license intentionally
emits or causes to be emitted at a specified frequency for
the purpose of transmitting content or programming to the
public.
(17) Standard equipment.—The term “standard equipment”
means motor vehicle equipment (as defined in section 30102(a)
of title 49, United States Code) that—
(A) is installed as a system, part, or component of a
passenger motor vehicle as originally manufactured; and
(B) the manufacturer of the passenger motor vehicle
recommends or authorizes to be included in the passenger
motor vehicle for no additional or separate monetary fee,
payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price of the passenger
motor vehicle.
(18) State.—The term “State” means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
SEC. 3. AM BROADCAST STATIONS RULE.
(a) Rule Required.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with
the Administrator and the Federal Communications Commission,
shall issue a rule—
(1) requiring devices that can receive signals and play
content transmitted by AM broadcast stations be installed as
standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles—
(A) manufactured in the United States for sale in the
United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in
interstate commerce; and
(B) manufactured after the effective date of the rule;
(2) requiring access to AM broadcast stations through the
devices required under paragraph (1) in a manner that is
easily accessible to drivers; and
(3) allowing a manufacturer to comply with that rule by
installing devices as described in paragraph (1) that can
receive signals and play content transmitted by digital audio
AM broadcast stations.
(b) Report Required.—Before issuing the rule required
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation of the Senate and make publicly available on
the website of the Department of Transportation, a report
that evaluates the following:
(1) Any potential adverse impacts related to automotive
innovation and the motor vehicle safety of passenger motor
vehicles equipped with automated driving systems from the
reception of AM radio signals by such vehicles as required by
subsection (a) of this Act.
(2) The range of solutions that manufacturers could adopt
or have adopted to mitigate any potential impacts identified
in paragraph (1).
(c) Compliance.—
(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), in
issuing the rule required under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall establish an effective date for the rule that is not
more than 2 years after the date on which the rule is issued.
(2) Certain manufacturers.—In issuing the rule required
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish an
effective date for the rule that is at least 4 years after
the date on which the rule is issued with respect to a
manufacturer that manufactured not more than 40,000 passenger
motor vehicles for sale in the United States in 2022.
(d) Interim Requirement.—For passenger motor vehicles
manufactured after the date of enactment of this Act and
manufactured in the United States for sale in the United
States, imported into the United States, or shipped in
interstate commerce during the period beginning on the day
after the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the day
before the effective date of the rule issued under subsection
(a) that do not include devices that can receive signals and
play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations, the
manufacturer of the passenger motor vehicles—
(1) shall provide clear and conspicuous labeling to inform
purchasers of those passenger motor vehicles that the
passenger motor vehicles do not include devices that can
receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast
stations; and
(2) may not charge an additional or separate monetary fee,
payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price of the passenger
motor vehicles, for access to AM broadcast stations for the
period described in this subsection.
(e) Relationship to Other Laws.—After the date of
enactment of this Act, a State or a political subdivision of
a State may not prescribe or continue in effect a law,
regulation, or other requirement applicable to access to AM
broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles.
(f) Enforcement.—
(1) Civil penalty.—Any person who violates the rule issued
under subsection (a) shall be liable to the United States
Government for a civil penalty under section 30165(a)(1) of
title 49, United States Code, as if that rule were a
regulation described in that section.
(2) Civil action.—The Attorney General may bring a civil
action under section 30163 of title 49, United States Code,
in an appropriate district court of the United States to
enjoin a violation of the rule issued under subsection (a) of
this section, as if that rule were a regulation described in
subsection (a)(1) of that section 30163.
(g) GAO Study.—
(1) In general.—The Comptroller General shall conduct a
comprehensive study on disseminating emergency alerts and
warnings to the public.
(2) Requirements.—The study required under paragraph (1)
shall include—
(A) an assessment of—
(i) the role of passenger motor vehicles in IPAWS
communications, including by providing access to AM broadcast
stations;
(ii) the advantages, effectiveness, limitations,
resilience, and accessibility of existing IPAWS communication
technologies, including AM broadcast stations in passenger
motor vehicles;
(iii) the advantages, effectiveness, limitations,
resilience, and accessibility of AM broadcast stations
relative to other IPAWS communication technologies in
passenger motor vehicles; and
(iv) whether other IPAWS communication technologies are
capable of ensuring the President (or a designee) can reach
at least 90 percent of the population of the United States at
a time of crisis, including at night; and
(B) a description of any ongoing efforts to integrate new
and emerging technologies and communication platforms into
the IPAWS framework.
(3) Consultation required.—In conducting the study
required under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall
consult with—
(A) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(B) the Federal Communications Commission;
(C) the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration;
(D) the Secretary;
(E) Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local
emergency management officials;
(F) first responders;
(G) technology experts in resilience and accessibility;
(H) radio broadcasters;
(I) manufacturers of passenger motor vehicles; and
(J) other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the
Comptroller General.
(4) Briefing and report.—
(A) Briefing.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief
the appropriate committees of Congress on the results of the
study required by paragraph (1), including recommendations
for legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller
General determines appropriate.
(B) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Comptroller General provides the briefing required
under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing
the results of the study required under paragraph (1),
including recommendations for legislation and administrative
action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
(h) Review.—Not less frequently than once every 5 years
after the date on which the Secretary issues the rule
required by subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination
with the Administrator and the Federal Communications
Commission, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report that shall include an assessment of—
(1) the impacts of the rule issued under that subsection,
including the impacts on public safety; and
(2) possible changes to IPAWS communication technologies
that would enable resilient and accessible alerts to drivers
and passengers of passenger motor vehicles.
(i) Sunset.—This Act shall sunset and no longer be in
effect on the date that is 8 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, including the authority of the
Secretary to carry out or enforce that rule.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Fletcher) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 979.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Tens of millions of Americans tune into broadcast AM radio every day. Farmers use AM radio for weather forecasts, local information, crop reports, while older Americans rely on it for local news and programming.
communications. When a disaster hits and a broadband network goes dark, AM radio can continue providing critical emergency information to communities. This bipartisan bill has broad support from stakeholders, including the Farm Bureau, former FEMA administrators, and first responders.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, bipartisan legislation that Ranking Member Pallone introduced with Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis of Florida.
to AM radio every day. Americans tune in to listen to the news, sports, weather, and more, often while driving.
AM radio also plays a critical role during emergencies. AM stations are an important distribution for emergency alerts, and there is a network of AM broadcast stations specifically designed to withstand major weather events and other disasters.
Alert System, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency invests millions of dollars every year to keep those AM stations ready to broadcast in emergencies.
cannot risk removing it from our vehicles, which multiple automakers have done.
essential role of AM radio and ensures that consumers will continue to have AM radio available in their vehicles. It directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule that requires vehicle manufacturers to install equipment to receive AM radio signals in all new passenger cars made or sold in the United States.
information provided over AM radio during times of emergency, as well as access to the stations Americans know and love during times of safety.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the sponsor of this piece of legislation, chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, AM broadcast radio is a critical public safety resource and our emergency alert system is based around those signals.
officials and for information sharing to the public during national and local emergencies.
cell service out, and have a limited ability to get information, unfortunately. In many instances, people end up listening to the radio in their car for their only source of information.
routes during emergencies require constant information sharing, and AM radio is the go-to.
not receiving those AM alert transmissions. If a vehicle does not have AM broadcasting abilities, it takes away the last resort of communication and leaves people vulnerable during moments when seconds matter.
can protect Americans and ensure this critical service remains available. It is that simple, Madam Speaker.
bill and, of course, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Guthrie, my good friend. We need to pass this critical piece of legislation as soon as possible.
Madam Speaker, I urge a “yes” vote.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this strong compromise to H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Bilirakis, and all of my colleagues who have worked diligently to find common ground and move this legislation forward.
else who has been part of a lot of tough discussions. I have spent my life at the heart of the American auto industry, and cars have always been a core part of who I am.
to critical information and the importance of getting Federal policy right as technology continues to evolve.
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country, especially when it comes to delivering lifesaving information during emergencies and natural disasters. Consumers need to have reliable access to those alerts, but we also have to recognize that technology changes. That is why I believe the compromise before us today strikes the correct balance.
sunset provision recognizing that Congress should reassess the mandates as technology evolves. If AM radio continues to provide value in the future, Congress can and should act again.
reliable
access to emergency information without delays.
mandating AM radio, including implications for safety and innovation and potential solutions auto manufactures could adopt.
and across the aisle to find this compromise. Today, it just feels like a day to say this is what Congress is supposed to do.
As we all know, AM radio remains widespread across our country. Madam Speaker, 99 percent of the 286 million vehicles on the road today have AM radio, and roughly 90 percent of new vehicles will still include it. With the average vehicle on the road being more than 12 years old, almost all Americans will continue to have AM radio in their vehicles for years to come.
I am proud of the work that went into this bipartisan compromise. I will be voting in favor of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Madam Speaker, let's get this bill across the finish line.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
representing, we know how important reliable information is when a hurricane threatens our communities.
equipment in new passenger vehicles, with no separate charge to drivers.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. Bilirakis' bill, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
purchased has the minimum amount of standard equipment expected. Can you imagine spending $60,000 on a new car and not getting AM radio? Why don't you just take the transmission too.
Ramsey, and no Brewers game, not to mention we recently had a big tornado, and I think one of the reasons nobody died is everybody got in their basement because they heard of the danger on AM radio. They expect me to sit at home and wait for the Brewers game to end before I get in the car? That is ridiculous.
Quick, pass this bill, rush it to the Senate and President Trump. I want to hear The Dave Clark Five, The Beach Boys, and The Supremes if I buy a new car.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier and for the reasons Chairman Guthrie and Mrs. Dingell stated, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and my friend from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) for working together to get us to a point where we could pass this bill today, just as we heard Mr. Grothman from Wisconsin say how important this bill is.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage a “yes” vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Evans of Colorado). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 979, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.