In a stunning display of bipartisan unity, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to require new cars, trucks, and SUVs to come with AM radio as standard equipment, at no extra cost. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate AM radio in new passenger vehicles, now heads to the Senate. Apparently, the only thing that can bridge Washington's partisan divide is a century-old broadcast band that most people under 40 have never willingly tuned into.

Proponents of AM radio have long argued that it's a critical lifeline during emergencies because its signal can travel long distances. After years of unsuccessful lobbying, they've finally found a groundswell of support from Democrats, Republicans, the broadcast industry, emergency responder organizations, and even former administrators of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Nothing says "bipartisan consensus" like the fear of a national emergency where your only source of information is a staticky AM station playing talk radio and oldies.

The bill was co-sponsored by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who secured 60 co-sponsors earlier this year - a critical threshold to overcoming a filibuster. In a joint statement Wednesday, Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Markey hailed the decision: "This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles. From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans. It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country."

Meanwhile, a growing number of automakers have been ditching AM radio in favor of software-defined vehicles that offer streaming services like TuneIn and SiriusXM. EV makers have led the charge, arguing that electromagnetic interference from electric motors degrades AM signal and audio quality. Automakers including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo no longer include traditional AM receivers. Ford had also removed AM radio from some vehicles but has since reversed course. Tesla couldn't be reached for comment; Rivian declined to comment.

Tesla doesn't have AM receivers in the base versions of its Model 3 and Model Y. Rivian's new R2 SUV lacks both FM and AM receivers, though it offers AM/FM radio through the digital platform iHeartRadio for free. The Rivian R1S and R1T models allow customers to access FM content digitally or via built-in receiver. So while Congress fights to keep the airwaves alive, the auto industry seems perfectly happy to let you stream your emergency broadcasts - assuming you have a decent data plan and the cell towers are still standing.