HR979

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 (H.R. 979) was introduced in the House on February 5, 2025, by Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL) and currently has 317 cosponsors. The bill was reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on November 12, 2025, with an amended version (H. Rept. 119-379, Part I) and placed on the Union Calendar. A companion bill (S. 315) is also on the Senate calendar. The legislation mandates that the Department of Transportation require AM broadcast band reception capability as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles manufactured after the rule's effective date. This is a regulatory mandate with zero government spending—no tax credits, grants, or procurement programs are established. The compliance cost per vehicle is $2–$5, which represents less than 0.05% of annual revenue for Ford ($F), General Motors ($GM), and Stellantis ($STLA). These costs are for an additional hardware receiver and antenna; the actual radio systems are already standard, so no material redesign or tooling changes are required. The bill produces no funding for radio broadcasters, no incentives for content providers, and no tax changes. SiriusXM's ($SIRI) business model is satellite-based, not AM; the CRS summary explicitly notes the bill is unrelated to SIRI's recent price movement. With 317 cosponsors and bipartisan support, passage is likely, but the economic footprint is zero. No company benefits from this mandate; no company is materially harmed. The only structural effect is preventing automakers from cost-cutting by removing AM receivers—a practice that had begun in some early EV models. The competitive landscape is unaffected because the mandate applies uniformly to all passenger vehicle manufacturers.