What we know
What we know: Senate is skeptical about making daylight saving time permanent despite Trump's pressure
Compiled Oct 29
What we know
- The Senate is unlikely to act before the end of the year on a House-passed bill that would make daylight saving time permanent.
- Sen. Tom Cotton is the most vocal opponent and has doubled down despite Trump's pressure.
- Several other Republicans, particularly from Northern states, also oppose the change because it would mean much later sunrises.
- Trump has publicly pressured Senate Republicans, including posting his personal cellphone number and ordering Cotton to 'GET IT DONE!'
- In the winter of 1973, Congress passed a law instituting permanent daylight saving time as a trial, but it was repealed by that October due to dropping public support.
- Florida Sen. Rick Scott signed 2018 legislation allowing Florida to stay on daylight saving time year-round, pending federal approval, and has led Senate efforts for the change.
What we don’t know yet
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune hasn't weighed in publicly on the House bill.
- Several Republicans predicted the bill won't come up for a vote in the short time left after the midterm election, but this is not certain.
Open questions
- Will the Senate ever schedule a vote on the House-passed bill?
- How will Trump respond if the bill continues to stall?
- Would any version of the bill gain enough Republican support to pass?
- What federal approval process would be needed for states like Florida to adopt year-round daylight saving time?
Drawn from the Associated Press report. “What we don’t know” lists only what the reporting itself flags as unresolved.