US House to Vote on Making Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote next week on legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent across the country, according to a notice posted Thursday. The bill, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, aims to eliminate the twice-yearly changing of clocks that has been standard practice in most of the United States since the 1960s.

Legislative Path and Support

The measure has already demonstrated significant bipartisan support in the lower chamber. In May, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the bill with a decisive 48-1 vote. The proposal would allow individual states to opt out if they choose to remain on standard time.

This is not the first time Congress has considered the issue. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a similar bill in March 2022, but the measure was never brought to a vote in the House. Should the bill pass the House next week, it would still need to be considered and approved by the Senate before it could become law.

Arguments For and Against

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Proponents of the bill argue that ending the time change would have numerous benefits for the economy and public safety. They cite potential reductions in sleep disturbances, workplace injuries, and car accidents. Representative Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey, stated that permanent daylight saving time is "better for safety and will boost New Jersey’s tourism industry."

Supporters also point to increased economic activity, particularly in tourism and recreation, from having more daylight in the evenings. Representative Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican who has introduced the bill since 2018, noted its popularity in his state for allowing more evening hours for activities like golf.

However, the proposal faces opposition. Critics, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have raised concerns that permanent daylight saving time would result in dangerously dark mornings during the winter, forcing children to travel to school in darkness. A similar attempt to enact year-round daylight saving time in 1974 was quickly repealed due to widespread unpopularity.