The House Votes 308-117 to Stop Changing the Clocks — and the Fight Moves to a Senate Where the Opposition Is Republicans From States That Would Not See Sunrise Until After 9 A.M.
On July 14, 2026, the House passed the Sunshine Protection Act 308-117, sending President Trump's long-standing demand for permanent, year-round daylight saving time to the Senate. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), presiding over the vote, played the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" from his phone as he read the tally. The split does not run cleanly along party lines. The bill's loudest champions are Florida Republicans; its Republican opponents are from northern and Mountain West states — Reps. Bryan Steil (R-WI), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Harriet Hageman (R-WY) all voted no — where year-round daylight saving would push winter sunrise past 8:30 or 9 a.m. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the measure, while Democrats including Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) argued the sleep-medicine evidence favors permanent standard time instead. Trump renewed his pressure on the Senate on August 13, 2026. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has publicly objected, invoking the failed 1974 experiment with year-round daylight saving, and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) has said it does not work for his state. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said it remains to be seen whether the bill can reach 60 votes. The Senate returns from recess September 14.
“People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year. It is foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly.”