308 to 117: House passed the clock bill, but the Senate waited

President Donald Trump renewed his push for permanent daylight saving time on Monday. He posted on Truth Social that the Senate had not yet approved the Sunshine Protection Act. The president noted that sunset had occurred at 5:06 P.M. and it was dark by 5:31 P.M. He called the timing ridiculous.

The debate centers on ending the twice-yearly clock change. Daylight saving time currently requires most of the United States to set clocks one hour ahead of standard time between spring and fall. The goal of the bill is to make that earlier time permanent year-round.

The House of Representatives approved the bill on July 14. The vote was 308-117. The bill did not pass the Senate before Americans switched their clocks back on Nov. 1. Trump said the House sent the bill to the Senate with great bipartisan support. He stated that the Senate did not take it up.

Supporters of the measure argue it provides more daylight when Americans are most active. Opponents counter that commuters in some states would not see the sun until after 9 a.m. Congress passed a law in 1973 to establish year-round daylight saving time as an experiment. That experiment began in 1974. Lawmakers ended it early as support declined. Part of the concern involved children walking to school in the dark.

Trump said he did not want to make a big deal of the issue prior to the election. He explained he did not want certain senators to lose their races in a landslide. Now that the midterm election is over, he promised to keep working to get the bill to his desk.

The president acknowledged the House passed the bill 308-117. He said he will keep fighting for the legislation. The next step requires Senate action before the bill can reach the president’s desk for signature.