Results from the U.S. midterm elections will, no doubt, have all sorts of ramifications.
The 119th Congress is concluding, and newly elected members of the 120th Congress will be sworn in during early January 2027.
Amidst what could be sweeping change in Washington, what about the piece of legislation we’ve been following closely: the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act?
In the Senate, the legislation has 61 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle. But if the bill is not signed before the clock strikes noon on Jan. 3, it officially dies.
Supporters are working to ensure the vehicle mandate does not get lost in the shuffle.
“Following its unanimous passage in the House, we are focused on working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to get this critical legislation across the finish line before the end of the year,” Carrie Healey, chief spokesperson and VP of communications for the National Association of Broadcasters, told Radio World on Friday.
Healey said that NAB is pursuing every available path to Senate passage during the lame-duck session, while mobilizing listeners through its “Depend on AM” campaign.
As detailed by law firm Holland & Knight, Congress returns facing a crowded agenda and a tight timeline. The Senate returns to Washington to handle year-end business with a target final adjournment of Dec. 18.
Before then, a partial government shutdown remains possible if Congress cannot resolve disputes over spending levels, policy riders, defense funding, healthcare and administration authorities ahead of Dec. 11, when the current continuing resolution expires.
In October, bill sponsor Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told KSCJ(AM) in Sioux City there are two ways the mandate could cross the finish line before the clock runs out.
“I hope we get it passed on unanimous consent,” Grassley said.
Under that procedure, Grassley explained, the bill is hotlined by telephone to all 100 members, allowing it to pass in five minutes on the Senate floor if nobody registers an objection. If that fails, Grassley indicated the proposal could be tacked on to another must-pass piece of legislation, such as a rural healthcare bill or end-of-year funding package.
“This commonsense bill is ready to become law, and we are working tirelessly to make that happen this year,” Healey said.
[Related: “Opinion: Hey Congress, FM Deserves Protection Too”]
