Critical step for permanent daylight saving time in the US

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at ending the twice-yearly clock changes in the country and making daylight saving time permanent.

The regulation, known as the "Sunshine Protection Act," received support from both parties in the vote held on July 14. The bill passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 308 to 117.

The regulation stipulates that the time zone currently applied in the US between March and November should remain in effect throughout the year. For the bill to become law, the Senate process must also be completed; it is noted that the Senate may soon take up the text and that changes could be made to the bill.

It was also noted that Republican Scott DesJarlais, who presided over the vote, played a portion of The Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun" on his phone during the final count.

US President Donald Trump had promised to end clock changes after his return to the White House for a second term. In a post on his social media account in May, Trump stated that he would "work very hard" on this issue, saying, "It is time for people to stop worrying about the 'Clock'."

Florida Republican Representative Vern Buchanan, who introduced the bill in January 2025, had stated that clock changes disrupt schedules "for no good reason."

The history of daylight saving time in the US dates back to the First World War. Clocks were moved forward to take advantage of more daylight in the afternoons during the summer months and to save energy. The practice was abolished after the war and reintroduced during the Second World War. The law that standardized clock changes across the country was passed in 1966.

However, some states, including Hawaii and Arizona, as well as US territories such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, have chosen to opt out of the practice.

Opponents of permanent daylight saving time point out that mornings will be darker, especially in the winter months, and that driving conditions could become riskier for those who hit the road early. Those who advocate for maintaining standard time argue that more daylight in the morning could have more positive results for sleep patterns and health.

According to the Pew Research Center, about one-third of the world's countries use some form of daylight saving time. A significant portion of these countries are located in Europe; in Africa, the only country that implements daylight saving time is Egypt.