WASHINGTON, D.C. — When it comes to Capitol Hill political maneuvering, getting legislation to pass by unanimous consent is not an everyday feat — even when a majority of leaders are onboard for a bill’s approval.
Such is the case with the NAB-supported AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, thanks to a Kentucky libertarian who refused to allow that to happen. That said, the bill is far from dead and will now follow the typical route for gaining U.S. Senate passage.
In a move D.C. insiders believe would not deliver the result he wanted, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), a key supporter of the Act, took to the Senate floor on Tuesday requesting the rare unanimous consent for S.1669, legislation that requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles manufactured and sold in the U.S. to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment.
Since its May 17 introduction by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), some 43 co-sponsors have put their name on the bill, with Democrats Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Robert Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania joining Republicans John Hoeven of North Dakota and Chuck Grassley of Iowa in signing on to the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Those Senators became co-sponsors on November 29.
As Cruz’s camp sees it, the bill, which was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this year, “was on the verge of Senate passage” before being objected to by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Paul, who is a medical doctor, proclaims himself as “one of the nation’s leading advocates for liberty.”
And, with two words — “I object” — Paul put the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act into the typical Senate cue of taking a bill to the floor, opening up to amendments, and then holding a vote that would either approve the legislation, incorporate it into an omnibus bill, or let it linger, wither and die.
The latter option is highly unlikely, as Paul wants to tinker with the legislation rather than squash it. As reported by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink, Paul is seeking to add his own modification to the bill to end electric vehicle subsidies under the American Vehicle Tax Credit, in lieu of mandating AM radio remain a standard feature in all vehicles manufactured and sold in the U.S. as a safety feature.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act would, if passed, also direct 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 beyond the base price of the device.
Furthermore, the Act requires any automaker that sells vehicles without access to AM broadcast radio before the effective date of the NHTSA regulation to clearly disclose to consumers that the vehicle lacks access to AM broadcast radio; and would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the reach and effectiveness of AM broadcast radio for alerting the public to emergencies relative to other technologies.
Given the unlikely pairing of Cruz and Markey, getting the Act to the finish line is highly likely. In his remarks on the Senate floor, Cruz said, “I would note that Senator Markey is one of, if not the most liberal senator in this chamber, and I am one of, if not the most conservative Senator in this chamber. I don’t recall another bill where we have joined forces, and it speaks to the power of this issue that you see such deep agreement across ideological lines.”
Cruz also slammed the automotive companies that moved to remove AM radio as simply doing it for reasons beyond technology.
“I believe these automakers stood up to remove AM radio as part of a broader pattern we see of censoring views that are disfavored by Big Business,” Cruz remarked. “I think this is consistent with what Big Tech has done, silencing views they disagree with. And so this bill is all about preserving consumer choice—letting consumers decide. If you don’t want to listen to AM radio, turn it off. But you know what? If the automakers all come together and say, ‘you can’t turn it on because we’re not going to put it in your car, we’re not going to put it in your truck, you don’t have the right to choose what you will listen to.’ ”
Cruz concluded, “I think that’s profoundly harmful for our country and profoundly harmful for free speech. And so I hope this body can actually act in support of Americans in harm’s way in a disaster, and support of farmers and ranchers who rely on AM radio, and in support of a diversity of views speaking online, and in support of free speech for whatever your views whether they’re Right-wing, Left-wing, or no wings at all, AM radio lets people speak and make the case in John Stuart Mill’s marketplace of ideas.”
