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US House passes bill to make daylight saving time permanent

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The US House of Representatives passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, ending the twice-yearly clock changes.
  • Supporters argue the change will reduce sleep disruption, workplace injuries, and road accidents, while boosting economic activity with more evening daylight.
  • Critics worry about later sunrises in winter mornings, potentially affecting children traveling to school in darkness, and the bill now moves to the Senate.

The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill making daylight saving time permanent, a move that would end the practice of changing clocks twice a year. The bill, which passed with a 308-117 vote, now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Proponents of the change argue that the biannual clock adjustments disrupt sleep patterns, increase workplace injuries, and contribute to more road accidents. They also contend that maintaining daylight saving time year-round would offer more daylight in the evenings during winter months, potentially stimulating economic activity. President Donald Trump has previously expressed strong support for ending the clock changes.

It's time to finally end the process of springing forward and falling back.

— Democratic Representative Frank PallonePallone stated that commuting and work habits have changed, and fewer schoolchildren walk to school, justifying the end of clock changes.

However, the proposal faces opposition. Critics, including Senator Tom Cotton, express concern that permanent daylight saving time would lead to very late sunrises in winter, forcing children to commute to school in darkness. An alternative proposal to make standard time permanent was rejected by House lawmakers.

Major US airlines, represented by Airlines for America, have also raised concerns. They stated the bill would have significant implications for aviation, including passenger disruption, crew and aircraft positioning, and connectivity issues, emphasizing the need for a timeline that accounts for global complexities. The Senate had previously voted unanimously in favor of permanent daylight saving time in March 2022, but the House did not advance the measure at that time.

have considerable implications for aviation, including passenger disruption, crew and aircraft positioning, and domestic and international connectivity issues... Any changes would need an implementation timeline that reflects these global complications.

— Airlines for AmericaThe airline group expressed concerns about the practical impact of permanent daylight saving time on air travel operations.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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