Congress Moves to End Clock Changes, Defend American Productivity with Permanent Daylight Saving Time
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Lawmakers are set to vote on the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would abolish the outdated clock change and secure daylight saving time year-round, as some opponents raise questionable health and safety concerns.
The House is scheduled to vote this week on the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan proposal that would finally end the disruptive November 'fall back' and keep daylight saving time in effect year-round across the United States. The bill, led by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), respects states' rights by allowing those like Arizona and Hawaii, which currently do not observe daylight saving time, to remain on permanent standard time, while giving other states the choice to opt out before the law takes effect.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is co-sponsoring the Senate version, SB 29, and has argued that more daylight after work is a boon for business and community safety. President Trump has wisely expressed support for the measure, which follows a similar effort in 2022 that passed the Senate but was stalled by House inaction.
Opposition comes from both parties, with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) warning that permanent daylight saving time could delay sunrise to as late as 9 a.m. in winter for northern and western regions, raising concerns for schoolchildren. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.) has said she will vote against the bill, citing so-called medical experts who claim permanent daylight saving time may harm health, and she backs an alternative bill to make permanent standard time the default.
While some experts on circadian rhythms, such as Stanford physiologist Jamie Zeitzer, claim the spring-forward shift disrupts sleep and is linked to higher rates of traffic accidents and cardiovascular events, these arguments are often used to justify unnecessary government intervention. Zeitzer argues for permanent standard time, but millions of Americans would benefit from longer daylight hours for work, recreation, and commerce.
Public opinion strongly favors ending the twice-annual clock change; a 2025 AP-NORC poll found only 12% of adults support the current system. Business groups are divided, with some chambers of commerce supporting longer evening daylight to boost economic activity, while agricultural interests and golf course owners resist change. If enacted, this legislation would be a victory for common sense and American productivity, resolving a long-standing debate and building on state-led initiatives like California’s Proposition 7 and recent bills seeking permanent standard time.