May 2023 Newsletter

Q. Why are AM radios banished from motor vehicles?
A. Electromagnetic interference of EVs causes static in AM radios.

“BMW and Volvo told me it was due to audio quality problems rooted in electromagnetic interference, of which EVs’ [electric vehicles] drivetrains produce a significant amount.”
– “Auto-Makers are Starting to Drop AM Radio In New Cars. Here’s Why,” by Reporter James Gilboy

AM Radio Protection Bill in Congress
“AM radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023” by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) was introduced into the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee May 18, 2023. Committee ranking member Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Markey are leading nine other members of Congress from both parties in support of the Act.
Provisions: Within a year after this becomes law, the Secretary of Transportation and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator must jointly issue a rule that requires:

  • Devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations must be installed as standard equipment in motor vehicles manufactured in the U.S., imported into the U.S, or shipped in interstate commerce after the effective date of the rule;
  • Dashboard access to AM broadcast stations must be installed and conspicuous to the driver. After the rule takes effect, manufacturers may comply by installing devices that are capable of receiving signals and playing content transmitted by digital audio AM broadcast stations as standard equipment in vehicles manufactured in the U.S., imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce.

Interim Requirement
Between the date the Act is enacted and the effective date of the required rule, motor vehicles manufactured in the U.S., imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce shall have clear and conspicuous labeling to inform buyers that the vehicles do not include devices that receive signals and play content via AM broadcast stations.

Penalty for Non-compliance
The U.S. Attorney General may sue violators in the appropriate U.S. district court.

Mandatory Research Study
The Comptroller General (CG) must study and assess whether an alternative system could:

  • Reliably resiliently deliver to drivers and passengers alerts and critical information from the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System as currently provided by AM radio.
  • Reach 90 percent of the U.S. population in crises and at night as AM radio does.
  • Assess the cost to drivers and passengers to receive communications via another system.

ACTION – Support. Ask senators and representatives to support AM radio by text AM52886 and/or call 1 877 762-8762. That number goes to a switchboard whereby you may and ask to be connected with senators and representatives.

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April 2023 Newsletter

Georgia Legislative Session Ended March 29th with Mixed Results
Passed: Georgia Gender Dysphoria Law

S.B. 140 Gender Dysphoria Act prohibits using the following medical procedures on minors:

“Section 2: Sex reassignment surgeries, or any other surgical procedures, that are performed for the purpose of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics; or
“hormone-replacement therapies.”

Section 3 Lists Exceptions “Deemed Medically Necessary”
“Section 3(b) (1) Treatments for medical conditions other than gender dysphoria or for the purpose of sex reassignment where such treatments are deemed medically necessary;
“(2) Treatments for individuals born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development, including individuals born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development, including individuals born with ambiguous genitalia or chromosomal abnormalities resulting in ambiguity regarding the individual’s biological sex;
“(3) Treatment for individuals with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome; and
“4) continued treatment of minors who are, prior to July 1, 2023, being treated with irreversible hormone replacement therapies.”

The Georgia Composite Medical Board will issue rules/regulations to govern the above.

Question: Will doctors and institutions be held liable for damages caused by such treatment?

Question: Will parents of minors be arrested/fined/lose custody for opposing such treatment?

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March 2023 Newsletter

“They” Want Drastic Culture Change!
What do “They” want changed?

S. R. 109 Marriage, the Union of Two Adult Persons by Senator Gloria Butler (D-55), proposes the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia:
“Paragraph 1. Recognition of marriage.

(a) This state shall recognize as marriage any union between two adult persons, regardless of race, gender, or biological sex, who are of sound mind, who have no living spouse from a previously undissolved marriage, and who are not related to their prospective spouse by blood or marriage within the prohibited degrees.”

(b) Georgia would give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other state or jurisdiction respecting a relationship between interracial persons or persons of the same gender or biological sex that is treated as marriage under the law of the other state or jurisdiction. The courts of this state shall have jurisdiction to grant a divorce or separate maintenance and to consider or rule on any of the parties’ respective rights arising from interracial or same-sex marriage unions.” If this passes voters would decide the following:

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to recognize marriage as any union between two adult persons eligible to marry under Georgia law regardless of race, gender, or biological sex?”

ACTION – Oppose. Contact Judiciary Committee Senators Strickland, Ch., 404 463-6598; Cowsert, V-Ch., 463-1366; Hodges, Sec.,463-1309; Gooch, Ex-Officio, 656-9221; Hatchett, 656-7454; Jones II, 656-0036; Kennedy, 656-6578; Parent, 656-5109; Rhett, 656-0054; Setzler, 656-0256; Watson, 656-7880.

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February 2023 Newsletter

Georgia General Assembly Convenes January 9th for 40 Days

In the first week of the General Assembly legislators passed S.R. 6 to set the 40-day legislative schedule, which is set to end Wednesday, March 29th, but that could change. Interestingly, S.R. 6, also, contains a four-paragraph Part II directing the General Assembly to move from the Capitol if an emergency or disaster makes it impossible to work there. Part II, also, directs the re-convening of the General Assembly in the Capitol after the emergency ends.

Officials Overseeing the Legislative Process

I. Secretary of the Senate: David A. Cook is a former senator, whose career as Secretary of the Senate began on July 2, 2013 when his peers first elected him. He has been continually re-elected since, and was re-elected this year. In 1789 the office was created to provide a Secretary to serve concurrently with the senators. He (a) manages and oversees the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and (b) all data1 and subsequent information published therein. In addition, he (c) assists in producing and updating the Senate Rules (d) while serving on the Senate Administrative Affairs Commission and the Legislative Services Committee.

II. Lieutenant Governor Presides as President of the Senate. Burt Jones, elected as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in the 2022 election, presides over the Senate and participates in other actions. (a) On January 12th, he and other members of the Assignments Committee (SAC) announced committee chairs for this first year of the current two-year term. (b) Before the session convenes every morning, he and other SAC members meet to decide committee assignments for bills and resolutions being introduced that day. Members of SAC are the Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tem, Majority Leader and two members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, who, also, determines the duties of the SAC.

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