Opinion - Congress must prioritize emergency readiness over industry gridlock

Yahoo

16-05-2025

One of the enduring lessons from my three terms in Congress and decades in law enforcement, including as Orlando's chief of police, is that even the best ideas often take time to become law. Some bills move quickly, while others require years of persistent effort and negotiation. That's the nature of democratic governance. What's essential is to keep pushing for progress, while recognizing that we should always seize opportunities to pass legislation that can help keep people safe.
We have such an opportunity today. Currently, there is a debate unfolding around music royalty reform and protecting America's public warning infrastructure.
As an original sponsor of the Music Modernization Act, I've long supported efforts to ensure American musicians are treated fairly — especially in this digital age. Artists and performers deserve to be compensated for their work. While the Music Modernization Act was a major step in the right direction, I clearly understand there is still much work to do in Congress.
There are not yet enough votes yet to expand the Music Modernization Act. However, a bill created to protect America's public warning infrastructure — the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act —currently has overwhelming bipartisan support, including a filibuster-proof majority of co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate.
Unfortunately, some music industry stakeholders, understandably frustrated with the slow pace of royalty reform, are advocating that Congress refrain from passing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act unless further royalty reform legislation is passed alongside it. As a former police chief who led public safety efforts during major storms and other emergencies, and as a member of Congress who served as chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery, I can say, without hesitation, that this would be a mistake.
Both issues deserve serious consideration from Congress, but only one of them, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, has the bipartisan support needed to pass right now.
I have firsthand experience on how critical AM radio can be when other systems fail during emergencies. Passing this bill is a necessity for public safety.
As former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Pete Gaynor put it, when the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, FEMA and the FCC worked together to create an emergency management system capable of withstanding even the worst disasters, they made AM radio the lynchpin of the system because public safety officials can depend on it even when other platforms fail.
It has worked tremendously well. The Major Cities Chiefs Association, which represents 70 of the U.S. largest cities' police departments, has said that, 'when disasters strike, the [National Public Warning System and Emergency Alert System] are often the only means by which first responders and the citizenry can access and share emergency updates. This is due to their continued use of the nation's tried-and-true 'fail-safe' communication method — AM radio.'
Indeed. When cell towers go down and the internet goes dark (as they often do during hurricanes and other extreme weather events), AM radio keeps broadcasting.
We saw this during the recent storms that tore through the Southeast, including my home state of Florida. In those moments, AM radio was a lifeline. Local officials used it to communicate evacuation routes, shelter locations and emergency updates. During Hurricane Helene, CNN called it 'a lifeline.' That's why law enforcement, fire service and emergency management professionals across the country support this bill.
Public safety professionals know that the absence of AM radio would make their jobs harder — and put lives at risk. FEMA has even said that if automakers continue removing AM radio, 'millions' of Americans could lose access to 'critical, live saving' information during disasters.
I understand the desire to see broader royalty reform and I hope Congress will reach consensus soon. However, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is about public safety, and we must not delay or derail public safety legislation that is ready to become law now. Doing so does not help anyone, including the very artists music lobbyists are trying to help.
I was proud to have served in Congress. I know this is not an either-or choice. It's a test of whether Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time. Congress must move now to meet its primary obligation — to keep the American people safe.
Here's hoping it does.
Val Demings was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 10th District from 2017-2023, where she served as chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery. She was chief of the Orlando Police Department from 2007-2011.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.