Senate Republicans block permanent daylight saving time bill
Despite President Trump's social media campaign, the House-passed measure is likely to stall as members from northern states cite dark winter mornings.
By Layla Richardson ·
The Senate is poised to let a House-passed bill die before the end of the year, defying President Donald Trump’s push to make daylight saving time permanent. The legislation would eliminate the twice-yearly clock change, but Republican leaders have signaled they will not bring it to a floor vote. This decision frustrates supporters who want more afternoon light and leaves the current system in place for another cycle.
President Trump has aggressively lobbied his party to pass the bill. Earlier this month, he posted his personal cellphone number on social media and ordered Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas to "GET IT DONE!" Cotton, a member of the Republican leadership, has become the most vocal opponent. He argues that while few people enjoy changing clocks, history shows the public rejects permanent daylight saving time when winter sunrises become too late.
"No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Savings Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter," Cotton said. His stance is shared by other Republicans, particularly those from northern states. Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota warned that the change would mean "you’d be sending kids to school in the dark."
Trump has renewed his pressure this week, claiming on Truth Social that the Senate is letting the bill die despite majority public support. He argued that afternoon sunshine is superior and that "CRIMINALS DON’T LIKE WORKING IN THE LIGHT." The president, an avid golfer, also noted that permanent daylight saving time would provide more hours to play golf and reduce the danger of changing clocks on high buildings.
Senate Republicans predict the bill is a "non-starter" for their leaders. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana said he understands the measure is not moving forward. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio was more direct when asked if the bill would pass soon, responding, "No way." Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has not commented publicly on the House bill, though he has voted against similar versions in the past. The Senate returns to Washington after the Nov. 3 midterm election, leaving little time for a vote.
Public support for the current system is low. An AP-NORC poll last year found that only 12% of American adults favored the status quo, while nearly half opposed it. Organizations including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine back a single, permanent time. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who signed state legislation for permanent daylight saving time in 2018, has led the Senate effort. He described the current practice as an "unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them."
Democrats have also joined the push for change. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, who supported Scott's bill last year, said the ritual of changing clocks impacts the economy, health, and happiness. "Let’s say goodbye to 4pm winter sunsets," Markey said. The current practice has historical precedent. In 1973, during an energy crisis, Congress adopted permanent daylight saving time for a trial period. It was repealed by October of that year as public support dropped, largely due to concerns about children walking to school in the dark.
