House to Vote on Sunshine Protection Act for Permanent Daylight Savings Time
The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up for a vote on the Sunshine Protection Act, which, if passed, would make Daylight Savings Time (DST) a permanent fixture. This move follows a favorable recommendation from the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May, where the vote was overwhelmingly in favor at 41-1, and has the backing of President Donald Trump.
According to a report, the House vote is anticipated to take place next week, as noted in a notification released Thursday.
Earlier, in March 2022, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of a similar bill that aimed to make DST permanent, but the House chose not to act on it at that time.
Next week, the House will also review a proposal that could allow individual states the option to opt out of advancing their clocks by one hour during the summer months.
Daylight Saving Time was first introduced in the U.S. in 1918 under President Woodrow Wilson, but it was repealed shortly after World War I. This led to a patchwork of state-by-state implementations. It wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson reinstated a more standardized approach with the Uniform Time Act.
“This is so important in that Hundreds of Millions of Dollars are spent every year by people, Cities, and States, being forced to change their Clocks. Many of these Clocks are located in Towers, and the cost of renting, or using, Heavy Equipment to do this twice a year is prohibitive!” Trump commented on Truth Social following the committee’s progress on the bill.
“I will work very hard to see The Sunshine Protection Act signed into Law. It’s time for people to stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ and consider all the time and money wasted on this ridiculous routine. This could also be a substantial win for the Republican Party. It’s about moving toward a more popular option, Saving Daylight, which just gives longer, brighter days — Who wouldn’t want that? It’s an easy decision!” he added.
Reportedly, President Trump favors permanently adopting the time observed from March through November, unlike Hawaii and Arizona, which maintain standard time year-round.
