Broadcasters from 31 states traveled to Washington to make what the National Association of Broadcasters hopes will be its final push for passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, meeting with lawmakers to stress AM radio’s role in delivering emergency alerts and local information.
The Capitol Hill fly-in brought together broadcasters, state broadcast association leaders and representatives from organizations including AARP, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and local emergency management agencies. Their message to lawmakers: move the bipartisan bill to the president’s desk while there is still time on the legislative calendar.
“We are grateful to our congressional champions who have led this bipartisan effort every step of the way,” NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said. “Congress has everything it needs to act. It is time to finish the job and send this bill to the president’s desk.”
Broadcasters used both personal stories and public safety data to make their case. Sharon Tinsley, President of the Alabama Broadcasters Association, recounted how listening to a local AM station’s severe weather coverage kept her off an interstate where a tornado crossed two years ago.
“If I hadn’t been listening to my local radio station hearing the weather forecast in real time, I would have been on the interstate when that tornado crossed the road,” Tinsley said during an appearance on NAB’s “AirTime” podcast.
The advocacy effort extended beyond congressional offices. Broadcasters across the U.S. discussed the legislation on their stations and with local media, while a mobile billboard circled Capitol Hill highlighting the measure’s more than 300 congressional cosponsors. NAB also said supporters generated more than 40,000 messages to members of Congress during the week, adding to nearly one million letters sent by broadcasters and listeners throughout the campaign.
Emergency management officials joined broadcasters in meetings with lawmakers to underscore AM radio’s value when other communications systems fail. James Coker, director of Alabama’s Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency, told legislators that AM remains a trusted source of information during disasters.
NAB says the legislation now has overwhelming bipartisan support, backing from President Donald Trump and endorsements from more than 115 organizations representing public safety, agriculture, seniors, labor and consumer interests. With Congress facing a limited number of legislative days before attention increasingly shifts to the 2026 midterm elections, the association is urging lawmakers to bring the measure to a final vote.
