House Approves Sunshine Protection Act Amid Corporate Interests and Public Fatigue
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The U.S. House voted 308-117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which would enforce daylight saving time year-round, sending the measure to the Senate despite ongoing concerns about worker safety and the influence of business lobbies.
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act with a 308-117 vote, a move that would eliminate the biannual ritual of changing clocks—a practice that disproportionately burdens working-class Americans and families. The bill would lock the nation into the daylight-saving schedule currently observed from March through November, unless a state chooses to opt out before the law takes effect. This legislation, now heading to the Senate, raises questions about whose interests are truly being served.
A previous Senate version failed last year after Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., highlighted the dangers of permanent daylight saving time, including darker mornings that could threaten the safety of commuters and early-shift workers—concerns that have been largely ignored in favor of business interests that profit from extended evening hours.
"It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production. It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party. Take it!" – President Donald Trump, posted on Truth Social.
While public opinion polls show most Americans are tired of changing clocks, there is no consensus on whether permanent daylight saving time or standard time is preferable. This measure follows previous failed attempts to address the issue, including a 2022 Senate vote and a short-lived law under President Nixon in the 1970s. Notably, Arizona, Hawaii, and several U.S. territories do not observe daylight saving time, while 19 states have passed resolutions to allow year-round daylight saving if federal law changes—demonstrating the patchwork approach to a problem that impacts millions, especially the most vulnerable.