{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-introduced-keep-am-radio-new-vehicles", "BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO KEEP AM RADIO IN NEW VEHICLES", "2023-05-17", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Bruce Westerman", "W000821", "westerman.house.gov", "westerman", "https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Today, new bipartisan legislation is being announced in the House -the AM for Every Vehicle Act - to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in new vehicles at no additional charge. Out of 20 of the world\u2019s leading carmakers, eight have removed AM broadcast radio from their electric vehicles.\n\nCongressman Bruce Westerman is co-leading the AM for Every Vehicle Act in the House along with Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Kean (NJ-07), Rob Menendez (NJ-8), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). The AM for Every Vehicle Act is being led in the Senate by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX).\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral AM for Every Vehicle Act will:\n\nDirect the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a rule that requires automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their vehicles without a separate or additional payment, fee, or surcharge;\n\nRequire any automaker that sells vehicles without access to AM broadcast radio before the effective date of the NHTSA rule to clearly disclose to consumers that the vehicle lacks access to AM broadcast radio; and,\n\nDirect the Government Accountability Office to study whether alternative communication systems could fully replicate the reach and effectiveness of AM broadcast radio for alerting the public to emergencies.\n\nThe bill text of the AM for Every Vehicle Act can be found here.\n\n\u201cRadio plays an essential role in our country. Many Arkansans rely on AM broadcast radio for breaking news and entertainment as they make their daily commutes, especially in rural areas where constituents spend a lot of time in their vehicles. In the case of severe weather, something Arkansas is no stranger to, AM radio is critical in updating the public to assure their safety,\" said Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04). With this bill, we're protecting AM broadcast radio by ensuring that automakers continue providing AM radio in new vehicles, cannot impose unnecessary fees or surcharges that would prevent Americans from accessing these vital services in their vehicles, and clearly indicate if any vehicle lacks AM radio capability.\u201d\n\n\u201cI would think that if Elon Musk has enough money to buy Twitter and send rockets to space, he can afford to include AM radio in his Teslas. Instead, Elon Musk and Tesla and other car manufacturers are putting public safety and emergency response at risk,\u201d said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). \u201cThe importance of AM radio during large-scale emergencies cannot be underestimated, and it has, without a doubt and without interruption, saved lives and kept our communities informed. When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn\u2019t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your AM radio. I\u2019m proud to introduce the bipartisan AM for Every Vehicle Act in the House to ensure that all auto manufacturers include AM radio in their vehicles to protect public safety.\u201d\n\n\"As our society navigates the rapidly changing landscape of technology, we must not lose sight of technology\u2019s vital foundations. AM radio remains a lifeline for those who rely on it for news, talk shows, sports, and emergency communications. From severe weather warnings to Amber Alerts, AM radio has been a lifeline for communities in distress. We need to safeguard this essential tool that, for decades, has allowed our citizens to stay informed, connected, and safe when it matters most,\u201d said Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-introduced-keep-am-radio-new-vehicles"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.144204918295145, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}