President Donald Trump’s push to end America’s twice-yearly clock changes has slammed into resistance from fellow Republicans in the Senate.
The House overwhelmingly passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July, but senators left Washington without bringing the legislation to a vote.
The bipartisan House vote was 308–117, delivering supporters a major victory after years of unsuccessful attempts to permanently change federal law.
The legislation would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide while preserving options for states choosing to remain permanently on standard time.
Trump has repeatedly demanded action, arguing Americans are tired of changing clocks and would benefit from additional afternoon and evening sunlight.
The president renewed that pressure Friday as senators departed Washington ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump said changing clocks twice annually “costs our country a fortune” while criticizing its effects on everyday American life.
He said the practice “is bad for crime, stress on people, sports, and just about everything else you can imagine.”
Despite Trump’s pressure, the Senate completed its pre-election work without scheduling a vote on the House-passed legislation.
Senators are not expected back for votes until after Election Day, meaning the immediate effort has effectively reached a legislative dead end.
Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy offered perhaps the clearest assessment of the bill’s prospects before lawmakers departed Washington.
“It’s dead as disco,” Kennedy told Reuters while discussing the proposal to establish permanent daylight saving time.
“My sense is it would have trouble passing … I don’t think the leader is going to bring it up,” Kennedy added.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune had already expressed doubts in July about whether supporters could assemble the 60 votes needed.
“We’re looking at it. You know the House had a big vote,” Thune said when discussing the legislation.
“There’s a lot of interest in it from members on our side over here. Some for, some against,” Thune continued.
Asked whether he personally supported permanent daylight saving time, the South Dakota Republican pointed toward his northern-state experience.
“I’m from a northern clime. I voted against it in committee,” Thune said.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, however, remains optimistic and told Reuters he believes lawmakers can eventually approve the legislation.
Scott has been one of the leading congressional advocates for ending the country’s longstanding ritual of changing clocks every spring and fall.
Supporters argue permanent daylight saving time could reduce sleep disruptions, workplace injuries and traffic accidents associated with seasonal clock changes.
They also contend additional evening sunlight during winter could encourage shopping, recreation and other economic activity after normal working hours.
Opponents focus heavily on darker winter mornings, particularly for schoolchildren, commuters, farmers and construction workers beginning their days early.
Under permanent daylight saving time, sunrise could occur near 9 a.m. or later in some communities during winter.
That possibility has helped divide Republicans despite Trump’s campaign to present the issue as common-sense reform with broad bipartisan appeal.
Under current federal law, daylight saving time begins on March’s second Sunday and concludes on November’s first Sunday.
The Department of Transportation oversees uniform daylight saving observance but cannot independently abolish or permanently extend the system.
States can currently exempt themselves from daylight saving time and remain on standard time, but cannot independently adopt permanent daylight saving time.
Arizona and Hawaii generally do not observe daylight saving time, alongside several American territories.
Most Americans therefore still move clocks forward during spring and turn them backward again during fall.
This year, standard time returns November 1, two days before voters head to polls for the midterm elections.
That means Americans will again “fall back” one hour despite Trump’s repeated demands that Congress finally end the clock-changing tradition.
If ultimately enacted, the House legislation would prevent clocks from returning to standard time beginning in 2027.
States currently exempt from daylight saving time could continue their arrangements under the legislation.
States could also choose permanent standard time before the federal change takes effect, according to the House-passed measure.
America has experimented with permanent daylight saving time before, including during World War II and again during the 1970s energy crisis.
Congress enacted year-round daylight saving time in 1974 as officials searched for ways to reduce energy consumption.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
