The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, pushing the bill one step closer to becoming legislation that would require all new cars to include AM radio as a standard feature.

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for debate and vote. If passed by the Senate, it would then go to the president to be signed into law.

“This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles,” said Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Commerce Committee, who secured 60 co-sponsors in the Senate earlier this year. “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.”

iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman also released a statement of support thanking lawmakers for pushing the bill forward.

“The House’s passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is a significant victory for public safety, local communities and the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio every day,” Pittman said in a statement.

According to Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), who first announced and introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress to protect public safety and encourage electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to include AM radio in their cars and trucks, more than 50 million Americans listen to AM broadcast radio every month.

“AM radio is a lifeline. When the power goes out, when the cell towers go down, and when the Internet cuts off during a storm or an emergency, AM radio is often the only way families can get the life-saving information they need,” said Gottheimer. “It’s outrageous that some automakers want to rip out a basic, free feature — one that helps keep people safe — just to pad their own bottom line. I’m proud to have helped lead this bipartisan bill from day one, and today the House stood up for every driver, every first responder, and every family who counts on AM radio when it matters most.”