Senate undecided on future of daylight saving time bill
An alarm clock stands among flowers in a meadow. (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
A bill to make daylight saving time permanent has passed in the House. However, it is not clear how much support the U.S. Senate has to make it become law.
What they're saying:
The bill needs 60 votes to pass through the chamber, but Senate Majority leader John Thune said senators remain divided on whether it would meet the required threshold. "We're looking at it. You know the House had a big vote. There's a lot of interest in it from members on our side over here. Some for, some against,"
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House passes daylight saving time bill
The backstory:
The Sunshine Protection Act, the bill that would allow states to opt-in or opt-out of Daylight Saving Time year-round, passed in the House by a vote of 308 to 117.
Supporters argue permanent daylight saving time would reduce sleep disruption, workplace injuries and traffic accidents, while giving businesses more evening daylight in winter.
The other side:
Opponents warn the shift would push sunrise to nearly 9 a.m. in parts of the country, sending children and commuters into pre-dawn darkness.
Sen. Tom Cotton said the plan risks repeating the failed 1974 experiment when Congress briefly adopted year-round daylight saving time before reversing course due to public backlash.
What's next:
At this time, the Senate has not scheduled a vote on the Sunshine Protection Act. If it reaches the 60-vote requirement, the bill will move on to President Trump to sign into law.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Reuters. This story was reported from Orlando.