Missouri’s Public Safety Director Urges Floor Vote on AM Radio

July 18, 2024

The Honorable Mike Johnson, Speaker
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader
The Honorable Charles Shumer, Senate Majority Leader
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican Leader

Re: Floor Vote on AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act

On behalf of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, l am writing to express support for keeping AM broadcast radios in passenger vehicles and for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to be brought up for a floor vote in each house of Congress as soon as possible.  AM radio is essential to ensuring warnings and protective information can reach Americans during times of crisis.

AM broadcast radio serves as the backbone of the Emergency Alert System and for decades has proven to be a critical source of reliable information for public safety in times of crisis.  In recent years, we have seen the importance of alerting messaging being sent from as many sources as possible because technologies sometimes fail.  AM Radio is extremely reliable.  According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), AM broadcast radio has more than 45 million listeners each month, and citizens rely on it for emergency alerts and local news and weather.  Over 75 radio stations, the majority of which operate on AM broadcast and cover at least 90% of the American population, have equipment that allow them to continue to broadcast information to the public during and after an emergency, even when internet connectivity and cell phone service is unavailable.

As you know, overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both the Senate and the House support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would direct federal automotive safety regulators to require automakers maintain AM broadcast radio in new vehicles at no additional charge to consumers.  I hope you will act expeditiously on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and ensure that AM broadcast radio will remain a standard, free safety feature on passenger motor vehicles.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Sandra K. Karsten
Director, Missouri Department of Public Safety