Washington — A panel of U.S. House lawmakers advanced a bill this week that would require the inclusion of AM radio in all new vehicles for eight years.

"I know quite well how crucial AM radio is for receiving emergency alerts during hurricane season, for consumers and rural communities to people stuck without electricity or internet during a national disaster," said U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida. He is the chief sponsor of the measure.

Bilirakis continued: "AM radio is their lifeline to critical and life-saving information. This bill makes sure that consumers don't lose that lifeline."

The measure, amended Wednesday by the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, is an apparent compromise between emergency management groups, automakers and fans of talk radio shows that are br

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