U.S. House Passes Sunshine Protection Act to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Sunshine Protection Act with a 308‑117 vote, a bipartisan majority that would eliminate the twice‑yearly clock changes and keep daylight saving time in effect year‑round. Leading sponsors such as Rep. Vern Buchanan (R‑FL) argued that more evening daylight benefits families and the tourism sector, while opponents warned that darker winter mornings could affect schoolchildren, farmers and road safety.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration and would require the signature of President Donald Trump to become law. Medical bodies, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have endorsed a single time schedule, citing health benefits, but some lawmakers and experts caution that permanent DST would shift sunrise to as late as 9:30 a.m. in parts of the country. Historical attempts in the 1970s to keep DST permanently were repealed after public backlash due to early‑morning darkness for schools.

If enacted, the legislation could reshape daily routines, commercial activity in the evenings, and spark further debate over the nation’s time‑zone structure.