US House Passes Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent, Awaiting Senate Approval

The United States House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a bill to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent, ending the biannual clock changes that have been in place since the 1960s. The bill passed with 308 votes in favor and 117 against and now moves to the Senate for consideration. President Donald Trump has repeatedly supported ending the clock changes, with the White House stating that the law would eliminate the hassle, time, and costs associated with switching clocks twice a year, potentially saving Americans hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Opposition to the bill comes from several senators, including Republican Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who argue that permanent DST would result in very dark winter mornings, forcing children to walk to school in the dark. The House recently rejected an alternative proposal to make standard time permanent instead. The aviation industry has also expressed concerns, warning that the change could disrupt passenger schedules, crew and aircraft positioning, and local and international connectivity, emphasizing the need for a carefully planned implementation timeline.

Historically, the US experimented with permanent DST during World War II and again in 1974 to save energy, but public dissatisfaction led to its quick reversal. Currently, Hawaii and Arizona do not observe DST and would remain exempt under the new law. Supporters highlight that switching clocks negatively affects sleep quality, increases workplace accidents, and contributes to more traffic accidents, while permanent DST could boost economic activity. Democratic Representative Frank Pallone noted that commuting patterns have changed, with fewer children walking to school, and stated, "It is time to finally end the process of springing forward and falling back."

Israel has also considered abolishing standard time to extend daylight hours in winter, but no legislation has advanced so far.