More reactions to the House passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act are arriving, with power players from radio’s C-Suite to the Speaker of the House celebrating the bipartisan win ahead of sending the legislation to the Senate for its next fight.
On the broadcasting front, iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman called the passage “a significant victory for public safety, local communities and the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio every day.”
“We applaud House leadership and the overwhelming bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who came together to advance this legislation,” Pittman said. “iHeartMedia especially thanks the House bill’s lead sponsors, Congressmen Gus Bilirakis and Frank Pallone, who have succeeded in building an extraordinarily broad, bipartisan coalition of more than 300 House cosponsors of this legislation, and who managed a nearly unanimous vote at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup ahead of consideration on the House floor. Most importantly, we recognize and appreciate the countless listeners across the country who have made their voices heard by telling their elected representatives to Keep AM Radio In Our Cars.”
“We look forward to working with the Senate Leadership and lead sponsors Senators Markey and Cruz, to finish the job, send this legislation to the President’s desk, and ensure AM radio remains available to listeners and communities across America,” he added.
State broadcast association leaders also praised the victory, with New York State Broadcasters Association President Heidi Raphael telling Radio Ink, “The passage of the AM Radio Act in the House is a tremendous step forward, but it’s not over yet. The next stop is Senate approval. We are incredibly grateful to our amazing members who have worked hard to help make it happen and the members of Congress who supported it across the aisle. Our work continues!”
New Jersey Broadcasters Association Executive Director Jordan Walton commented, “For more than 100 years, AM radio stations have provided music, sports, news, and entertainment to listeners across the Garden State and the country. More importantly, over the last century, radio has provided a critical lifeline in times of emergency. Ensuring that this free service utilizing the public’s airwaves is readily available in every vehicle sold in the United States by passing the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act is the right decision for public safety.”
On Capitol Hill, the bill’s original co-sponsors, Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) celebrated their win.
“Here in Florida, we know firsthand how important it is to have reliable access to emergency information before, during, and after a hurricane,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “When the power goes out, cell towers are overwhelmed, or internet service is disrupted, AM radio can be a lifeline…I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and pleased to see it pass the House. I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can send this commonsense legislation to the President’s desk.”
Rep. Pallone added, “The House acted to protect a service that millions of Americans rely on every day and that can become a lifeline when disaster strikes. During Superstorm Sandy, when power, cell service, cable, and internet went down across New Jersey, radio listenership in my district surged 247 percent as people tuned in for critical information on AM radio stations. I’m proud we passed this bipartisan bill, and I’ll keep working to get it across the finish line.”
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “When disaster strikes, especially in hurricane and tornado-prone states like Louisiana, local communities rely on AM radio to deliver accurate, up-to-date information and critical safety alerts. Yesterday, the House took a major step toward keeping AM radio in every new vehicle, ensuring our constituents never lose access to essential emergency warnings as well as some of their favorite broadcasting. As a longtime champion of this effort, I am proud to see the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act pass the House.”
Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), an original sponsor of the legislation dating back to its first iteration in 2023, said, “AM radio is a lifeline…It’s outrageous that some automakers want to rip out a basic, free feature, one that helps keep people safe, just to pad their own bottom line. I’m proud to have helped lead this bipartisan bill from day one…the House stood up for every driver, every first responder, and every family who counts on AM radio when it matters most.”
