TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday, July 14, to eliminate the biannual ritual of resetting the clocks, passing a bill to make daylight saving time permanent.
The measure dubbed the "Sunshine Protection Act" cleared the chamber with a 308-to-117 majority, according to The New York Times. Despite the strong House vote, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where lawmakers remain divided over the potential impact on their home states.
As reported by Fox News, the legislation drew a bipartisan coalition of supporters, particularly from coastal regions like Florida, Louisiana, and New Jersey. Proponents argue that extending evening daylight will boost tourism, encourage outdoor recreation, and eliminate the seasonal disruptions that affect sleep schedules and road safety.
Representative Kat Cammack, a Florida Republican, noted during the debate that the current system "disrupts routines, throws off our sleep and creates unnecessary frustration for families."
President Donald Trump has also voiced strong support for the change, previously describing the twice-yearly clock adjustment as a "ridiculous, twice-yearly production."
"We are going with the far more popular alternative, Saving Daylight, which gives you a longer, brighter Day. And who can be against that,” Trump wrote in a social media post in May.
Representative Gus Bilirakis, another Florida Republican, echoed this view, calling the clock change "a relic of the past that no longer reflects the way Americans live, work and conduct business in the 21st century."
However, the proposal has exposed geographical and partisan divisions. Fox News noted that lawmakers from agricultural and Midwestern states largely opposed the measure, pointing out that year-round daylight saving time would push winter sunrises past 9 a.m. in certain areas.
Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming pointed out that the impact varies widely across the country, stating, "Depends where you’re living in the country and the impact that it would be in your own home state. So, it’s not as simple as what one state might like."
Detractors warn this shift would push winter sunrises to an absurdly late hour in certain areas, leading to darker, more hazardous morning commutes. Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, cautioned that the change would be "depriving Americans of morning sunshine that’s essential for our safety and well-being."
Health Concerns and Historical Precedent
Health and sleep experts have also raised concerns. As documented by The New York Times, advocacy groups like the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time argue that permanent standard time—not daylight saving time—better aligns with the human body's natural circadian rhythm.
Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, a Pennsylvania Democrat who backed an alternative bill for year-round standard time, emphasized the importance of the body's natural clock. "Morning light is an environmental cue to set our body’s internal clocks and promote alertness," Scanlon said, urging that Congress "should follow the science and prioritize Americans’ health, particularly that of the children."
This is not the first time Washington has attempted to alter the nation's clocks. Congress implemented year-round daylight saving time in 1974, only to reverse the decision months later following widespread public dissatisfaction. More recently, the Senate unanimously passed a similar permanent daylight saving bill in 2022, but the bill died in the House.
According to an AP-NORC poll cited by Fox News, only 12 percent of Americans favor maintaining the current system of switching clocks twice a year. However, public preference remains split between permanent daylight saving and permanent standard time. If the current bill passes the Senate and becomes law, individual states would still retain the right to opt out in favor of year-round standard time.
Read: Daylight Savings Victoria Ending Soon: All You Need to Know
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