The legislation faces an uncertain path in the Senate.
Kelsey Brugger– Politico.com
The House passed legislation Tuesday to end the nation’s biannual practice of changing the clocks — a vote that sowed division in both parties and now faces an uphill battle in the Senate despite strong lobbying from the White House and personal engagement from President Donald Trump.
The final vote of 308-117 did not break down neatly along party lines. Twenty-two Republicans opposed it, even as the Trump administration put out a Statement of Administrative Policy encouraging its enactment.
Many Florida lawmakers extolled the legislation, with the state’s chief economic drivers — tourism, recreation, restaurants and golfing — standing to benefit from the extra hours of daylight in the evenings year-round.
“Why in the heck are we still changing our clocks?” Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) asked during floor debate on the bill. “Floridians — we are the sunshine state. We value sunshine.”
Rep. Gus Bilirakis, another Florida Republican, added: “This is not about politics. This is about practicality. It is about recognizing that our laws should keep pace with the people we represent.”
Other members, however, were critical of the effort. Agriculture state lawmakers are especially wary of delaying daylight for farmers, while others fear the extra hours of darkness in the morning would pose risks to mental health, public safety and sleep habits.
“I’m not for it,” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in an interview, “because I think having kids go to school when it’s dark doesn’t make sense, and that’s the major reason.”
Democrats devoted significant time during closed-door meetings Monday and Tuesday to debate the pros and cons of adopting permanent daylight saving time as the top Democrat on House Energy and Commerce, Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, tried hard to sell it.
Pallone’s committee adopted the Sunshine Protection Act as a bipartisan amendment to be included in a measure reauthorizing surface transportation programs. On Tuesday, he called it something on which “many Americans actually agree.” He claimed that only 12 percent of Americans want to keep the clock-changing practice as is, adding that it’s associated with an increase in heart attacks and strokes.
In the end, 95 Democrats voted against the bill on the floor Tuesday.
Lawmakers have been debating this topic for years, but the effort has picked up speed in recent months thanks to Trump’s involvement. GOP leaders decided to move the bill as a standalone proposition at this time in hopes it would entice Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) to end her revolt over unrelated issues on the House floor.