House passes Trump-backed bill to make daylight saving time permanent

House lawmakers advanced legislation Tuesday that would end the twice-a-year ritual of adjusting clocks by making daylight saving time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would give states the option to enact daylight saving time year-round or continue with the biannual transitions of “spring forward” and “fall back,” cleared the House in a bipartisan 308-117 vote.  The bill, sponsored by Rep.Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), will now head to the Senate. “Americans across the country are tired of the biannual clock change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity,” Buchanan said in a statement. “I’ve advocated for this change for years because it’s clear that year-round daylight saving time is a popular, commonsense reform that will improve everyday life for millions of Americans,” the Sunshine State rep added, urging lawmakers to “lock the clock for good.” Summer sunrises and sunsets would be unaffected by the legislation, but from November through February, there would be pronounced differences in the states that don’t opt-out of permanent daylight saving time.  For example, 4 o’clock hour sunsets would be a thing of the past. In New York City, the latest sunrise (Jan.

4) would shift from 7:20 a.m.ET to 8:20 a.m ET.

The earliest sunset in the Big Apple (Dec.7) would move 4:28 p.m.

ET to 5:28 p.m.ET. President Trump expressed strong support for Sunshine Protection Act after it advanced out of committee in May. “It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice-yearly production,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party.Take it!” “We are going with the far more popular alternative, Saving Daylight, which gives you a longer, brighter Day — And who can...