Sunlight: Trump urges Senate to finalize permanent daylight saving time
The House passed the measure 308-117 in July, but the Senate took no action before clocks shifted on Nov. 1.
By Thabo Hoffmann ·
President Donald Trump renewed his push to make daylight saving time permanent on Nov. 9, criticizing the Senate for failing to act on a bill that the House approved earlier this year.
The House voted 308-117 on July 14 to end the twice-yearly clock change. The legislation did not reach a vote in the Senate before Americans switched their clocks back on Nov. 1. Trump described the delay as a failure to capitalize on broad support.
"The House sent it over to the Senate with great bipartisan support, numerous times (308-117), but the Senate didn't take it up," the president wrote on Truth Social. He noted that he withheld a larger campaign effort before the midterm elections to avoid impacting individual Senate races.
The president cited the early darkness in Washington, D.C., as a primary reason for his frustration. He pointed out that sunset occurred at 5:06 p.m. and it was dark by 5:31 p.m., calling the timing ridiculous.
Daylight saving time currently requires clocks to move one hour ahead in the spring and back one hour in the fall. Proponents argue that permanent daylight saving time would keep evenings brighter when people are most active. Opponents counter that the change would push sunrise past 9 a.m. for commuters in some states.
Congress established an experiment in 1973 that mandated year-round daylight saving time starting in 1974. Lawmakers ended that experiment early as support waned, partly due to concerns about children walking to school in the dark.
Trump stated he will continue working to get the bill to his desk despite the recent midterm election results. He emphasized that while the country has larger priorities, he will keep fighting for the change.
