President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans to release their holds and pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which the House approved in July to make daylight saving time permanent.
In a Truth Social post, Trump called the twice-yearly clock change “foolish, inconvenient” and costly. He asked Republican senators to let the measure advance.
The House passed the bill 308-117 on July 14. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., now requires Senate approval.
However, its fate in the Senate is still uncertain. Senator Majority Leader John Thune stated in July that senators were still weighing the measure, but seem divided on it. A senior congressional aide also said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., plans to to ask Thune not to schedule a vote. Reuters reported that John Thune wondered if the bill will get the required 60 votes.
Trump said permanent daylight saving time would reduce crime, traffic crashes and certain health risks. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine instead recommends permanent standard time, saying it better aligns with human circadian biology.
Unless the legislation becomes law, clocks in most of the United States are scheduled to fall back Nov. 1.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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