House Overwhelmingly Passed Federal Bill in July, but Stalled at Senate Threshold
Trump Says "Tired of Changing It"… Some Lawmakers Push Back: "Dark Winter School Commutes Are Dangerous"
As expected, the season has arrived once again for most parts of the country to turn their clocks back one hour this weekend. With the end of Daylight Saving Time approaching, congressional debate over completely abolishing the decades-long practice of "adjusting the time" is heating up once more.
Last July, the federal House of Representatives passed the "Sunshine Protection Act," which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent year-round, by an overwhelming margin of 308 votes in favor to 17 against. President Donald Trump also threw his support behind the bill via social media (Truth Social), stating that "the American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year."
However, the Senate's threshold remains high. The Senate, returning from recess on November 9, already faces a packed schedule just to handle urgent public livelihood and national security matters, such as the federal budget expiring on December 11 and the National Defense Authorization Act. Compounding this, lawmakers remain sharply divided based on their geographical interests, making year-end passage uncertain.
Opponents in the Senate cite safety concerns stemming from "delayed winter sunrises" as their primary reason. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) pointed out, "Every time we've tried year-round Daylight Saving Time in the past, it was repealed because of the hardships caused by late winter sunrises," adding, "If passed, schoolchildren would have to commute in pitch-black darkness before sunrise for three months." In fact, if Daylight Saving Time were extended through the winter, January sunrises would occur as late as 8:17 a.m. in Little Rock, Arkansas, and 8:41 a.m. in Des Moines, Iowa.
On the other hand, the tourism, cultural, and sports sectors, along with lawmakers from northern regions, are strongly urging the bill's passage. Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) emphasized, "Residents in regions where it gets dark by 4 p.m. in the winter desperately want permanent Daylight Saving Time." Representative Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) also argued, "Longer daylight hours in the evening will increase leisure activities and consumer spending after work, providing a huge boost to the local economy, including the tourism and restaurant industries."
The history of time standardization in the United States began with the expansion of the railroad network in the 19th century. The clock-adjusting practice, which was later formalized by the enactment of the 'Uniform Time Act' in 1966, was attempted on a year-round basis during the 1974 energy crisis, but was revoked due to public complaints over late sunrises.
Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) took a cautious stance on whether they can secure the 60 votes required to bring the bill to the floor and achieve final passage, stating, "Positions on the time system are divided not by political party, but by the geography and latitude of each member's home state."
Ultimately, as the bill's processing is delayed, the U.S. mainland will repeat its annual routine this fall, turning clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday, before moving them forward one hour again on March 8 next year.