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President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged the Senate to quickly pass legislation making daylight saving time permanent, arguing that ending the twice-yearly clock changes would improve public safety, boost the economy and benefit Americans’ health.
Trump’s push comes after the House of Representatives voted 308-117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which would allow states to observe daylight saving time year-round.
Although the bill received bipartisan support in the House, it has yet to be taken up by the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain amid skepticism from lawmakers in both parties.
“For many years, the vast Majority of Americans have asked to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but no Administration has been able to get it done, until now,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
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“People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year,” he continued. “It is foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly.”
Support for the legislation has generally come from lawmakers representing coastal states, while opposition has been concentrated among lawmakers from the Midwest and agriculture-heavy states.
Trump argued that making daylight saving time permanent would strengthen the economy and provide Americans with an extra hour of evening daylight.
“For Cities and States with Watchtowers, and hard to reach places, it costs Millions of Dollars,” he said.
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Trump also argued that ending the twice-yearly clock changes would improve public health and reduce crime.
“A recent case was made that it is also bad for your health in the anxiety it creates,” he wrote.
“Leading Medical, Crime, and Economic Studies have shown that ceasing the biannual time change, giving us one extra hour of natural sunlight in the evenings, will help Decrease Robbery and Murder Rates, Reduce Car Accidents (especially those involving Pedestrians!), Lower Risk for Cardiac Issues, Stroke, and Seasonal Depression, Make It Safer for Children to Walk Home from School, Increase Time with your Family, Strongly Support Extracurricular Activities, Boost the Sports, Fitness, Tourism, Retail, and Restaurant Industries (and more!), and Save Money on Energy Bills, because everyone will be enjoying an EXTRA HOUR OF DAYLIGHT.”
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“In other words, leave it as it is now, and never change again,” Trump continued. “This is an issue that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents can unite behind. I am asking Republican Senators to release their holds, and allow the hotline to clear on the Republican side.”
“LET’S PASS THE SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT, ASAP,” he added.
Trump has long called for ending the twice-yearly clock changes, and the White House urged lawmakers to support the Sunshine Protection Act in an internal memo sent to Capitol Hill last month, calling it a “popular, common-sense reform.”
While nearly every state sets clocks ahead one hour in March before turning them back one hour in November, many have already passed legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent if Congress authorizes the change.
Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time.
An AP-NORC survey released in December found that only 12% of Americans support the current system of changing clocks twice a year. Nearly half opposed the practice, while 40% had no opinion.
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Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack contributed to this report.
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