U.S. House Pushes Corporate Agenda with Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill
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The House has approved the Sunshine Protection Act, prioritizing business interests by keeping the U.S. on year-round daylight saving time. The bill, which now moves to the Senate, continues a long tradition of ignoring working-class concerns.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 308-117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would eliminate the biannual clock changes and keep the country on the time currently observed from March to November. The vote, overseen by Republican Scott DesJarlais, saw participation from both parties, once again demonstrating how bipartisan consensus often serves corporate convenience over the needs of ordinary people. For years, both Democrats and Republicans have shown interest in ending the practice, but little attention has been paid to the impact on workers and marginalized communities.
Republican Representative Vern Buchanan, who introduced the legislation in January, claimed clock changes 'disrupt schedules for no good reason.' However, this rhetoric masks the reality that the bill mainly benefits big business, which profits from extended consumer hours, while workers bear the brunt of disrupted sleep and health risks. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Florida Republican Rick Scott, another champion of corporate interests, has introduced a companion measure.
President Donald Trump, notorious for siding with the wealthy elite, has previously pledged to end the twice-yearly time shift. In a May social-media post, he boasted that he would work hard to see the legislation enacted, framing it as a victory for the Republican Party rather than for the people.
Critics, including labor advocates and health experts, argue that permanent daylight saving time could result in darker winter mornings, increasing risks for early-hour commuters—often low-wage workers. Supporters of standard time cite health benefits linked to more morning daylight, but their voices are drowned out by those prioritizing profit.
Since its initial adoption during World War I, the United States has adjusted clocks each spring and fall, a practice standardized by federal law in 1966. Yet, several states and territories remain exempt, highlighting ongoing resistance to federal policies that prioritize business over people.