House Passes Sunshine Protection Act 308-117, Sending Bill to Senate

The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a 308-117 vote on July 14 and sent the measure to the Senate. Newsweek reported that the bill would end the twice-yearly clock change across most of the United States. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, stated there is a lot of opposition to the proposal.

He added last week that it remains unclear whether the bill can clear the Senate's 60-vote threshold, saying he does not think lawmakers want a mandate. President Donald Trump personally called Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy on Monday to seek support for the legislation. Kennedy agreed to back the bill but warned it faces an uphill battle and would need 60 votes to advance.

"It's going to be a dog fight," Kennedy told reporters. Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott is the Senate sponsor of the measure. Florida Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis said Americans were ready to "ditch the switch" and that predictable evening daylight would benefit workers, businesses and tourism.

Opposition spans both parties. New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said she has mixed feelings about the proposal. South Dakota Republican Senator Mike Rounds argued the change would be especially problematic in northern states, where some communities would not see sunrise until after 9:30 a.m.

In winter. "We'd have kids going to school in the dark until 9 o'clock, 9:30 in the morning," Rounds said. Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton blocked an earlier effort to fast-track the legislation by unanimous consent last October.

A Senate aide said this week that Cotton still holds the same objections and has argued permanent daylight saving time would make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans. Religious groups have also raised concerns. Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, said the change would disrupt prayer schedules for observant Jews.