The U.S. Senate is unlikely to vote before the end of the year on a House-passed bill that would make daylight saving time permanent. Despite public statements from President Donald Trump urging the chamber to approve the measure, several senators continue to block the legislation as the country prepares to turn clocks back one hour this Sunday.
Opposition to the bill is led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who argues that permanent daylight saving time would result in late sunrises during the winter months. Other senators from northern states, including Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), have expressed concerns that the change would force children to travel to school in the dark. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not commented publicly on the current bill but has voted against similar measures in the past.
President Trump has used social media to pressure Senate Republicans, stating that later daylight hours would benefit afternoon activities and improve public safety. Supporters of the bill, including Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), argue that ending the twice-yearly time change would benefit the economy and public health. An AP-NORC poll conducted last year indicated that 12% of American adults favor the current system, while nearly half oppose it.
The scale of public sentiment is reflected in polling data showing that 88% of American adults do not support the status quo of shifting clocks, though they remain divided on whether to adopt permanent standard or daylight saving time. Medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have also entered the debate as proponents of a single, year-round time standard. These groups argue that the transition itself has measurable effects on health and sleep cycles for millions of people.
In terms of precedent, Congress previously enacted permanent daylight saving time in 1973 during an energy crisis but repealed it the following year after public support dropped due to safety concerns for children. For the current bill to advance, it would need to be scheduled for a vote by Senate leadership. However, Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) characterized the House bill as a "non-starter" for leadership, and other members do not expect a vote during the brief session following the Nov. 3 midterm elections. No specific deadline for a vote has been set before the legislative year concludes.