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The US House of Representatives is planning a vote this week on a bill to establish year-round daylight saving time. Meanwhile, another group of lawmakers advocates for making standard time permanent. The House Rules Committee will convene at 4 p.m. on Monday to determine if any amendments are needed before the full House debates the legislation later this week.
In May, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Sunshine Protection Act with a vote of 48-1. The Senate had unanimously approved a similar measure in March 2022 to make daylight saving time permanent, but the House never moved forward with it due to opposition. The proposal grants states the option to opt out, although Hawaii and Arizona already do not observe daylight saving time.
Proponents argue that adjusting clocks causes sleep disruptions, increases workplace injuries, and leads to more car accidents. They also believe longer evening daylight could boost economic activity during winter months.
Daylight saving time—advancing clocks by one hour during the warmer months—has been observed in nearly all U.S. states since the 1960s. Last week, two lawmakers introduced the Sunshine for Our Kids Act, which would make standard time the default nationwide but allow states to choose daylight saving if they prefer.
Representatives Pat Harrigan and Mary Gay Scanlon emphasize that standard time aligns mornings better with natural light and biological rhythms. President Donald Trump also voiced strong support for ending the twice-annual clock changes.
Should the bill pass the House, it would then need to be considered by the Senate, which currently faces opposition from Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and others. Cotton warns that the change could lead to very late sunrises in winter and children heading to school in darkness in many parts of the country.
Historically, the U.S. used year-round daylight saving time during World War II and again in 1974 to save energy. However, public backlash was intense, leading Congress to repeal it later that year.
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