[House Report 119-379]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Rept.119-379
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { Part 1
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AM RADIO FOR EVERY VEHICLE ACT OF 2025
_______
November 12, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Guthrie, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 979]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 979) to require the Secretary of Transportation
to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in
motor vehicles, and for other purposes, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 4
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 5
Committee Action................................................. 6
Committee Votes.................................................. 6
Oversight Findings and Recommendations........................... 8
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 8
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 8
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 8
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 8
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 8
Related Committee and Subcommittee Hearings...................... 8
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 9
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits....... 9
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 9
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 9
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 9
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 10
Exchange of Letters with Additional Committees of Referral....... 11
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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.
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 979, the ``AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025''
was introduced by Representative Bilirakis on February 5, 2025,
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure. H.R. 979 would require the
Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), to issue a rule requiring AM
radio access be standard equipment in passenger vehicles.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
To preserve AM radio access in vehicles, Congressional
action is necessary. Broadcast AM radio is an essential source
of news, sports, weather, and emergency alerts for 47 million
Americans every week.\1\ However, trends show that some motor
vehicle manufacturers are removing this crucial, free, and
accessible service from vehicles.\2\
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\1\See Nielsen, Audio today 2023 How America Listens, Nielsen (Jun.
2023), https://www.radioworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nielsen-
2023-Audio-Today-How-America-
Listens-Jun23.pdf.
\2\See Phoebe Wall Howard, Ford to drop AM radio in new models,
except commercial vehicles, Detroit Free Press (Apr. 1, 2023), https://
www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2023/04/01/ford-am-radio-commercial/
70062845007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-
epti=z115934u115534d00----v115934&gca-ft=214&gca-ds=sophi.
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This trend is concerning, and a significant threat to the
country's emergency communications system. Broadcast AM radio
is the foundation and backbone of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's (FEMA) emergency alert system; this system
allows public officials to reach over 90 percent of the
country.\3\ At times of crisis, such as natural disasters and
extreme weather events, mobile wireless service and broadband
internet connections can fail, leaving people reliant on other
forms of communication, such as broadcast AM radio.\4\ Without
this essential service, the lives of Americans will be put in
danger.
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\3\See Nielsen, Audio today 2023 How America Listens, Nielsen (Jun.
2023), https://www.radioworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nielsen-
2023-Audio-Today-How-America-
Listens-Jun23.pdf.
\4\See Clinton County Emergency Management Agency, Cellular Service
During Disasters, Clinton County Emergency Management Agency (Oct. 7,
2025), https://www.cc-ema.org/post/cellular-service-during-disasters;
see N'dea Yancey-Bragg, `No excuse,' mayor says, for Helene victims to
be isolated without cell service, USA Today (Sep. 30, 2024), https://
www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/30/hurricane-helene-cell-
phone-outages/75449885007/.
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On top of this, FEMA has recently invested over $150
million to strengthen 77 radio stations to withstand national
disasters, emergencies, and nuclear electromagnetic pulses.\5\
As automakers remove broadcast AM radio from vehicles, they
undermine this investment.\6\ In a world with rising cyber
threats, continued extreme weather events, and natural
disasters, the need for continued access to broadcast AM radio
has never been greater.
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\5\Science & Technology, U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
Electromagnetic Pulse Shielding Mitigations Best Practices for
Protection of Mission Critical Equipment, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (Aug. 2022), https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/
22_0902_st_emp_mitigation_best_practices.pdf.
\6\See Phoebe Wall Howard, Ford to drop AM radio in new models,
except commercial vehicles, Detroit Free Press (Apr. 1, 2023), https://
www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2023/04/01/ford-am-radio-commercial/
70062845007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-
epti=z115934u115534d00----v115934&gca-ft=214&gca-ds=sophi.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recognizes that AM radio broadcast rulemaking
differs from historical requirements on motor vehicle
manufacturer manufacturers in that it relates to public safety
rather than motor vehicle safety.\7\ The Committee is cognizant
that a broadcast AM radio requirement may have impacts on
technologies that enable automotive automation and that future
Congressional review of a broadcast AM radio requirement is
appropriate in light of possible technological advancements in
the automotive and communications marketplaces.
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\7\See National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA: 50
Years of Vehicle Safety Standards Saved Hundreds of Thousands of Lives,
Prevented Millions of Injuries, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (Dec. 17, 2024), https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-
releases/nhtsa-50-years-vehicle-safety-standards-saved-hundreds-
thousands-lives-prevented.
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COMMITTEE ACTION
On April 30, 2024, the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data,
and Commerce held a hearing on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle
Act of 2025. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
John Bozella, President and CEO, Alliance
for Automotive Innovation
Gary Shapiro, CEO, Consumer Technology
Association
Melody Spann-Cooper, Chair and CEO, Midway
Broadcasting Corporation
Justin Ahasteen, Executive Director, Navajo
Nation
On June 26, 2025, the Subcommittee on Commerce,
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing on the automotive
industry and motor vehicle safety. The Subcommittee received
testimony from:
Jeff Farrah, CEO, Autonomous Vehicle
Industry Association;
John Bozzella, President and CEO, Alliance
for Automotive Innovation;
David Harkey, President. Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute; and
Catherine Chase, President, Advocates for
Highway and Auto Safety.
On September 17, 2025, the full Committee on Energy and
Commerce met in open markup session and ordered H.R. 979, as
amended, favorably reported to the House by a record vote of 50
yeas and 1 nay.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the
record votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto. The following reflects the record votes taken during
the Committee consideration:
OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII, the Committee held hearings and made findings that
are reflected in this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND
TAX EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII, the Committee
finds that H.R. 979 would result in no new or increased budget
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII, at the time this
report was filed, the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not available.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to require
the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring
access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles.
DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of
H.R. 979 is known to be duplicative of another Federal program,
including any program that was included in a report to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the most recent
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
RELATED COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following
related hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 979:
On June 26, 2025, the Subcommittee on
Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing on
H.R. 979. The title of the hearing was ``Looking Under
the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle
Safety.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Jeff Farrah, CEO, Autonomous
Vehicle Industry Association;
John Bozzella, President and
CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation;
David Harkey, President.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and
Highway Loss Data Institute; and
Catherine Chase, President,
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
On September 9, 2025, the Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology held a hearing on H.R.
979. The title of the hearing was ``Public Safety
Communication in the United States.'' The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
Steve Newton, Emergency
Management Director, Chatham County Emergency
Management;
Shannon Dicus, Sheriff, San
Bernadino County;
Brian Fontes, Former CEO,
National Emergency Number Association; and
Randall C. Wright, Executive
Director, WUFT/WRUF, Florida Public Radio
Emergency Network, and Project Beacon.
COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the time this report was
filed, the estimate was not available.
EARMARK, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 979 contains no earmarks, limited tax
benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 provides that the Act may be cited as the ``AM
Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025''.
Section 2. Definitions
Section 2 defines terms used throughout the legislation.
Section 3. AM broadcast stations rule
Section 3 would require, not later than one year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation,
in consultation with the Administrator of FEMA and the FCC, to
issue a rule requiring AM radio access be installed as standard
equipment in certain passenger motor vehicles. This rule would
also allow a manufacturer to comply by installing devices that
can receive signals and play content transmitted by digital
audio AM broadcast stations as standard equipment in certain
passenger motor vehicles. Before issuing a final rule, the
Secretary is required to evaluate the impact of the reception
of AM radio signals on passenger motor vehicles equipped with
automated driving systems and the range of solutions that have
been adopted or could be adopted to mitigate any negative
impacts. Also, the Secretary, in coordination with FEMA and the
FCC must, not less frequently than once every five years after
the rule, submit a report on the impacts of the rule and
possible changes to IPAWS communications that would enable
resilient and accessible alerts to drivers and passengers of
certain motor vehicles.
Section 3 would create a runway to compliance for vehicle
manufactures that manufactured not more than 40,000 passenger
vehicles in the United States in 2022.
Section 3 establishes a preemptive standard and provides
for an enforcement mechanism.
Section 3 also requires the Comptroller General to conduct
a study and report on disseminating emergency alerts and
warnings to the public.
Section 3 sunsets the Act, and the authority for the
Secretary to issue and enforce the rule, eight years after
enactment.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
This legislation does not amend any existing Federal
statute.
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