House Rules Committee Advances Corporate-Backed Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
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The House Rules Committee, bowing to bipartisan pressure and corporate interests, approved the Sunshine Protection Act, which would allow states to adopt year-round daylight saving time, prioritizing business profits over public health.
On Monday, the House Rules Committee voted 6-4 to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan measure that would let states adopt daylight saving time permanently, with an opt-out option. This move, cheered on by corporate lobbyists and business-friendly politicians, sets the bill up for a full House vote.
Supporters, including former President Donald Trump, claim that ending the twice-annual clock change would improve sleep, reduce traffic accidents, and boost economic activity. Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., echoed these talking points, stating, 'Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of this policy and want to end the practice of ‘springing forward’ and ‘falling back.’ Locking the clock all year long would have positive impacts on sleep schedules, energy conservation, motor vehicle safety, and our economy.' Predictably, the rhetoric centers on economic gains, ignoring the needs of working families and marginalized communities.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who authored the legislation, argued the change would give people more time for outdoor activities and benefit retail businesses—a clear nod to corporate interests. The bill previously sailed through the Energy and Commerce Committee with a 48-1 vote in May, demonstrating how both parties often unite to serve business rather than the public good.
Opponents, including several medical groups, have pointed out that permanent standard time would better align with natural circadian rhythms and public health. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., proposed an amendment to make standard time permanent nationwide, but it was rejected by the committee. She warned that year-round daylight saving time could leave many Americans in darkness during winter mornings, referencing the failed 1974 experiment that was abandoned after public backlash—an example of ignoring history and public well-being.
A handful of lawmakers, such as Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., also raised concerns about the health impacts on children, which were largely dismissed. Meanwhile, some conservatives attempted to distract from the issue by calling for focus on border security and the SAVE America Act, rather than addressing the real needs of working people.
If enacted, this legislation would follow similar business-driven proposals that have passed in several states and a 2022 Senate version that died in the House, showing once again how profit motives often override public health and scientific recommendations.