House Panel Advances Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill

A House panel voted overwhelmingly Thursday to advance legislation that would end the biannual ritual of adjusting clocks by making daylight saving time permanent across most of the country. The Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure 48-1 as part of a broader transportation bill, reviving an idea that has surfaced repeatedly in Congress without final passage.

President Trump hailed the step on social media, calling the twice-yearly clock shifts a needless expense that drains hundreds of millions of dollars from households, cities and states each year. He noted the practical burdens of reaching clocks in towers and using heavy equipment for the task, describing the process as ridiculous and unproductive. Trump argued that keeping daylight saving time year-round would deliver longer evenings without the disruptions of springing forward and falling back.

The Sunshine Protection Act, sponsored by Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida, has been introduced annually since 2018. Supporters point to reduced sleep disturbances, fewer workplace injuries and lower rates of car crashes as potential gains from eliminating the time shift. They also contend that brighter winter evenings could encourage additional shopping, recreation and other economic activity. Florida officials have long favored the change for its benefits to outdoor sports and tourism.

The bill includes a provision allowing states to opt out if they choose. Even so, the proposal faces resistance. Senator Tom Cotton has warned that permanent daylight saving time would produce late sunrises in northern states during winter, forcing many children to travel to school in darkness. Cotton and others argue that standard time better aligns morning light with daily routines in colder months.

Congress came close to action before. The Senate approved a similar measure unanimously in 2022, yet the House never brought it to a vote. The current version is expected to move to the full House next, after which the Senate would need to consider it again.

Critics of frequent government rules often note that small mandates accumulate real costs over time. Changing clocks twice a year fits that pattern: it requires coordination across businesses, schools and infrastructure with little offsetting public gain. Data from prior time shifts show measurable spikes in accidents and health complaints in the days immediately following each adjustment. Removing the requirement would free resources for more productive uses without creating new regulatory layers.

Advocates on both sides agree that the current system imposes measurable frictions on daily life. The committee vote signals renewed momentum, though final enactment still depends on navigating the full legislative process and addressing regional differences in sunrise patterns.