A push to eliminate the twice-yearly clock change moved closer to a House floor vote Monday after advancing through the chamber's rules committee on a 6-4 vote. The Sunshine Protection Act would lock the nation into daylight saving time year-round, creating permanently later sunrises and extended evening daylight during winter months.
The bill has drawn backing from an unlikely coalition. Donald Trump publicly championed it on Truth Social, calling it a "very nice WIN for the Republican Party" and praising what he called the "far more popular alternative." Democratic lawmakers have also signed on as cosponsors, suggesting the measure could face smoother sailing than typical partisan legislation.
Florida Republican Vern Buchanan sponsors the bill, which cleared the House energy and commerce committee in May with overwhelming support, 48-1. Passage through the rules committee now paves the way for a full House vote, though Senate approval would still be required after that.
The perpetual daylight saving proposal taps into a long-running national debate over how Americans should structure their days. The practice originated in the early 20th century as an energy conservation measure during wartime, but its modern utility remains contested. Most U.S. states flip their clocks twice annually, though Hawaii and most of Arizona have long opted out.
Support for ending the clock changes appears to be building. Nineteen states have already passed laws that would permit permanent daylight saving time once Congress gives its approval, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But disagreement persists over which schedule should become permanent. Sleep medicine specialists have cautioned that fixed standard time aligns better with human circadian rhythms, potentially undercutting arguments for year-round daylight saving time.
Previous legislative attempts to install a permanent daylight saving standard have repeatedly stalled, leaving the current system intact despite growing public fatigue with the twice-yearly adjustment. The current momentum, fueled by bipartisan backing and high-profile endorsement, represents a meaningful shift in the stalled conversation around daylight saving reform.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's enthusiastic backing turns what's typically a nerdy procedural question into a political talking point, and that could be exactly what gets this past a skeptical Senate."
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