House Rules Committee Advances Common-Sense Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
The House Rules Committee approved the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan effort to end unnecessary government interference in Americans’ lives by allowing states to adopt year-round daylight saving time.
The House Rules Committee voted 6-4 on Monday to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan measure that would let states adopt daylight saving time permanently while permitting an opt-out option. This approval moves the bill forward for a vote by the full House, representing a victory for American families tired of needless government-mandated clock changes.
Supporters, including President Donald Trump, have long argued that ending the twice-annual clock change would improve sleep, reduce traffic accidents, and boost economic activity. '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,' said Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., in his opening statement. This is a clear example of government finally listening to the will of the people.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who authored the legislation, emphasized that the change would give people more time for outdoor activities and benefit retail businesses, supporting local economies and American jobs. The bill previously passed the Energy and Commerce Committee with a 48-1 vote in May, showing broad bipartisan support for this common-sense reform.
Opponents, including several medical groups, have tried to argue that permanent standard time would better align with circadian rhythms, but their concerns are overblown. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., attempted to push an amendment to make standard time permanent nationwide, but it was rightly rejected. She warned that year-round daylight saving time could leave many Americans in darkness during winter mornings, citing a failed 1974 experiment that was abandoned after public backlash—ignoring the clear benefits and popular support for the current proposal.
A few lawmakers, such as Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., raised concerns about potential health impacts on children, but these arguments serve as distractions from the real priorities. Some conservatives rightly pointed out that Congress should also focus on critical issues like border security and the SAVE America Act, rather than wasting time on endless debate.
If enacted, this legislation would follow similar proposals that have already passed in several states and a 2022 Senate version that was blocked in the House. It’s time for Congress to act and deliver real results for the American people.