The U.S. system of Daylight Saving Time, which involves moving clocks forward one hour in March and reverting them back in early November, may soon be standardized year-round. Newsweek reported that a bill supporting this change passed the House Rules Committee by a vote of 6 to 4 on July 13.
According to reports, the bill, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.). Currently, most regions in the U.S. observe Daylight Saving Time by setting clocks forward at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and back at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. The proposed legislation aims to maintain the summer time standard throughout the year. The bill previously passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May with a vote of 48 to 1 and has now cleared the Rules Committee. If it passes the full House, it will move to the Senate.
Daylight Saving Time is currently in effect in most parts of the U.S., excluding some areas in Hawaii and Arizona. Proponents of the bill argue that the clock changes in spring and fall negatively impact health and that keeping Daylight Saving Time year-round would benefit outdoor activities, tourism, and economic growth. Among the supporters is President Donald Trump, who stated on his social media platform Truth Social shortly after the bill's passage in May, "Millions are spent each year adjusting clocks, and this will be a big win for the Republican Party." According to Fox News, about 20 states, including Alabama, South Carolina, Oregon, Maine, and Florida, have already passed state-level measures to implement the bill if it is approved by Congress.
However, opinions among Democrats are divided regarding the permanent adoption of Daylight Saving Time, as reported by Politico. Opponents include Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), who have raised concerns about child safety and the potential negative effects on physical and mental health. Conversely, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the Democratic chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed support, questioning whether anyone still wants to change the clocks.
Politico noted that while the push for permanent Daylight Saving Time has been a long-debated topic, progress has been slow, partly due to opposition from lawmakers representing agricultural states. In some rural areas of the U.S., farmers argue that without the time change, they would not see sunlight until 9 a.m. in winter. In response, Rep. Mary Scanlon (D-Pa.) proposed an amendment in the Rules Committee to make standard time permanent year-round while allowing states to choose whether to observe Daylight Saving Time, but it was defeated.
The U.S. first implemented Daylight Saving Time in 1918. Over 70 countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Israel, also observe Daylight Saving Time. In South Korea, the practice was in effect from 1948 to 1960 and was briefly reinstated around the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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