On May 21, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 48–1 to incorporate provisions from the Sunshine Protection Act into a broader transportation funding package under the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act, marking a key legislative step toward permanently adopting Daylight Saving Time (DST). The proposal was spearheaded by Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan from Florida. Should it ultimately pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President, the U.S. would abandon its twice-yearly clock adjustments entirely, maintaining DST year-round. As initially reported by The Washington Post, these DST-related measures were embedded within this larger legislative package. In a statement, Buchanan called the move “a step toward ending the outdated and widely disliked practice of changing clocks.”
Background: Last year, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) reintroduced a bill bearing the same name in the Senate; it garnered bipartisan support and cleared committee level review, though subsequent progress was halted. In April this year, the Senate Commerce Committee also held hearings on the issue. Currently, 19 states have passed legislation endorsing permanent DST, though federal authorization remains necessary for implementation; Maine and Texas joined this list last year. The sole dissenting vote came from Democratic Rep. Nanette Barragán of California, who cited research by health experts indicating potential adverse effects of permanent DST on sleep patterns and public health—most sleep medicine specialists argue standard time year-round would be more beneficial. Moving forward, the bill must undergo a full House vote followed by approval from both chambers.