After its August recess, Congress is back in session, but there was certainly no loss of momentum for the AM For Every Vehicle Act in the Senate. Six new cosponsors officially joined the bill on Wednesday. This brings the total number of Senators in support to 34, which means that a third of the Senate is now openly in support of the Act.
Introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) the bill has steadily gained bipartisan support since May, which is again exemplified in the new group. Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) all voiced their approval.
It’s worth noting that Ford and GM remain in the top 20 highest-spending lobbying companies for the past 90 days, with each disclosing $2,658,515 and $2,590,000 spent, respectively. The auto giants also report that that money was at least partially spent in the areas of broadcasting and radio.
“The incredible bipartisan support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has garnered in just a short time is a testament to the integral role AM broadcasting plays in informing, entertaining and connecting Americans across the country,” NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt told Radio Ink. “America’s broadcasters thank the members of Congress that are standing with their local AM station listeners and working to preserve radio’s pivotal place in the car dashboard.”
(Editor’s Note: wording has been changed since the original release for clarity on total Senate support, not just co-sponsors.)
Most state highway systems use AM to broadcast interstate highway issues. They need a program to relay information if they shutdown AM. By the way I’m not 70 and travel the highway interstate quite frequently.
Cool. You’re 80 and a truck driver.
50% of the people who listen to AM, largely people over 75 years old, have already surrendered the keys to their automobiles. So yeah this PR stunt only highlights how weak and fragile AM radio is.
Cite?
63.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
Sean is totally wrong, statistically. The number is 88%!