US House votes to make daylight saving time permanent
The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to pass a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, ending the twice-yearly practice of changing clocks that has been observed across most of the United States since the 1960s. The Sunshine Protection Act passed with a vote of 308 to 117, and the bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
If enacted, clocks would no longer return to standard time in November, though states could opt out of year-round daylight saving time. The bill would make daylight saving time the new permanent standard time, leading to later sunrises and sunsets and providing more daylight in the evening hours during darker times of the year.
The vote marks a significant step for a measure that has gained bipartisan support over the years. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the twice-yearly clock changes and has pledged to support the measure. Republican Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida, who introduced the bill in January 2025, said on Tuesday that clock changes disrupt schedules "for no good reason." Republican Scott DesJarlais, who presided over the vote, played a clip of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" on his phone during the final count.
Coverage comparison
Reports on the vote vary slightly in their emphasis. The BBC and Jerusalem Post both focused on the House vote and the bill's potential effects, with the Jerusalem Post noting that supporters say changing clocks disrupts sleep and increases workplace injuries, while critics say the change would mean the sun rises an hour later on winter mornings. The Hindu reported the vote and highlighted the bill's uncertain future in the Senate, noting that some Republican leaders have expressed doubts about its advancement. The Guardian's coverage described the bill passing a key committee in the House, setting it up for a potential full vote, though its report appears to predate the final House vote.
All reports agree on the core fact: the House voted 308-117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act. However, the Guardian's report, which focuses on the committee stage, does not mention the full House vote, suggesting it was written before the vote took place.
Key claims
- The US House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act with a vote of 308 to 117, as reported by the BBC, The Hindu, and the Jerusalem Post.
- The bill would end the twice-yearly practice of changing clocks, making daylight saving time the permanent standard time, according to multiple reports.
- President Donald Trump has pledged to end clock changes and supports the measure, as reported by the BBC and The Guardian.
- Supporters argue that changing clocks disrupts sleep, increases workplace injuries, and contributes to more road accidents, while also providing more evening daylight and boosting economic activity during winter months, according to the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu.
- Critics, including Senator Tom Cotton, argue that permanent daylight saving time would result in very late winter sunrises, forcing children in many parts of the country to go to school in darkness, as reported by the BBC and the Jerusalem Post.
- Airlines for America, a group representing major US air carriers, raised concerns about the bill's implications for aviation, including passenger disruption and crew and aircraft positioning, as reported by the BBC.
- The bill's future in the Senate is uncertain, as some Republican leaders have expressed doubts about its advancement, according to The Hindu.
- The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established standardized clock changes throughout the nation, as reported by The Hindu.
- India does not adopt daylight saving time due to marginal benefits and risks of rail accidents, as reported by The Hindu.