Sen. John Kennedy said President Donald Trump personally urged him to support ending seasonal clock changes, but lawmakers remain divided over darker winter mornings and whether the proposal can secure 60 Senate votes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
A House-approved plan to keep most of the United States on daylight saving time throughout the year is headed toward a difficult Senate battle, where concerns about school safety, winter travel and the measure’s political support could prevent final passage.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Monday that President Donald Trump recently called him and asked him to back the legislation, which would end the twice-yearly clock changes observed across much of the country since the 1960s.
Kennedy agreed to support the proposal but cautioned that substantial resistance remains among senators.
“It’s going to be a dog fight,” Kennedy told reporters while attending the Farnborough Airshow.
The House passed the measure last week. To advance through the Senate under current rules, it would likely need support from at least 60 members.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last week that it remained uncertain whether the proposal could reach that threshold.
The legislation would prevent clocks from returning to standard time in November, preserving later sunsets throughout the winter. States that do not currently observe daylight saving time would be permitted to remain outside the year-round system.
Supporters argue that eliminating seasonal clock changes would reduce disruptions to sleep schedules and daily routines. They also contend that shifting more daylight into the evening could benefit businesses and encourage economic activity during colder months.
Advocates have linked the clock changes to workplace injuries, traffic crashes and other safety problems caused by fatigue and disrupted sleep.
Permanent daylight saving time, they argue, would provide consistency while giving workers, families and consumers more usable daylight after the traditional work and school day.
Opponents are focused largely on what the change would mean before sunrise.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said she understands the disruption caused by moving clocks but remains concerned about children traveling to school in darkness.
“I feel it every time we change the clocks,” Shaheen said while participating in a U.S. delegation at the air show.
She added that permanent daylight saving time would mean “putting kids on the bus in the elementary school when it’s still dark in the morning. I appreciate the safety concerns.”
Because daylight saving time moves clocks one hour ahead of standard time, winter sunrises would occur an hour later.
In parts of the country, the sun would not rise until close to 9 a.m. or later during the darkest weeks of winter.
That prospect has raised concerns not only for students but also for commuters, construction crews, farmers and others who begin working early in the morning.
The debate reflects a broader disagreement over which portion of the day should receive more sunlight.
Supporters prioritize brighter evenings, while critics argue that morning light is more important for school travel, workplace safety and maintaining natural sleep patterns.
The United States has tried permanent daylight saving time before.
The country observed year-round daylight saving time during World War II and reinstated it in 1974 as part of an effort to conserve energy.
The 1974 policy quickly became unpopular, particularly as families and communities confronted dark winter mornings. Congress reversed the decision later that same year.
That experience is likely to shape the Senate debate as lawmakers consider whether public attitudes would change under a new permanent system.
The House vote demonstrated renewed political interest in ending the clock changes, but the Senate’s narrower procedural path and regional differences could complicate the bill’s prospects.
Lawmakers from northern states may face especially strong concerns because winter daylight hours are shorter and sunrise would occur later than in many southern communities.
Trump’s direct appeal to Kennedy signals that the administration intends to push for passage, but presidential support alone may not be enough to overcome the Senate divide.
Unless supporters can assemble a bipartisan coalition of at least 60 votes, Americans will continue moving their clocks forward in spring and back again in fall.
Original article
Comments