Griffith Statement on House Passage of AM Radio for Every Vehicle
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 979 – the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. This legislation directs federal agencies to issue a rule that compels automobile manufacturers to install AM radio for new vehicles. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.
Following House passage of the bill, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who voted for the bill and is a co-sponsor of the legislation, issued the following statement:
“AM radio is a tested and tried technology that reliably delivers news in real-time to people while they are driving. Access to this technology can be life-saving during a disaster, particularly in rural areas where redundant communications systems are essential.
“With this bill, those who live in and/or drive through rural communities will continue to receive reliable signal and service through AM radio.
“I urged House leadership to bring this bill to a vote. I am proud that the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is one step closer to becoming law.”
September 16, 2026 @ 8:42 am
I am so happy Congress has nothing else to be concerned about but me having an AM radio in my car. Let’s compel the automobile industry to install AM radios in every vehicle and give the industry another reason to raise prices on new cars while America is going to hell in a hand basket.
September 16, 2026 @ 8:07 pm
Absolute BS issue.
Everyone in the country has a cell phone in their pocket yet the auto industry is being forced to install 40’s and 50’s technology and make us pay for it?
September 24, 2026 @ 11:30 am
For many days after Helene was done with North Carolina, the only way a lot of people could find out where to go for help was from listening to WWNC on AM radio. Cell towers were toppled or blacked out, and what was left of the network was overwhelmed. Landlines were down. Power was out. You gotta have at least one way to let folks know where the rescuers are and what they’re doing. By the nature of it AM radio can go halfway around the world on a good night, so it reaches places other communications can’t. Maybe if the auto makers swapped color changing lights in the dash for an AM radio module, the cost would not go up.