Trump throws support behind change to permanent Daylight Saving Time

Staff Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is urging Republican Senators to pass a measure making Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide.

The bipartisan bill passed the House in July, but faces hurdles in the Senate, where members from both parties have pushed back against ending the semi-annual need to change your clocks.

In a post on social media, Trump said people are “sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year,” adding that it’s foolish, inconvenient, and in some cases very costly.

Indiana’s 2nd District Congressman Rudy Yakym and the 3rd District Congressman Marlon Stutzman both support the measure.

If the changes are made, parts of Indiana would see the latest sunrise shortly after 9 a.m., and the earliest sunset would happen at about 6.20 p.m.

Daylight saving time is that period between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. States could opt out if their respective legislatures act to do so before the bill’s enactment. The Senate would also have to pass the bill before it could be signed into law, but it’s unclear if it will do so.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., said Americans are ready to “ditch the switch,” saying that changing the clock twice a year creates unnecessary disruption. More important, he said, it would give families more daylight time in the evening to spend outdoors and support local businesses.

“In my home state of Florida, where tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses and visitors alike,” Bilirakis said.

One of the most fierce critics of the move, GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, has said making daylight saving time permanent would “push winter sunrises to an absurdly late hour, depriving Americans of morning sunshine that’s essential for our safety and well-being.”

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