Daylight saving time battle heats up as push to stop clock changes hits Senate wall

Key Points:

• President Trump has reignited the debate over making daylight saving time permanent by urging the Senate to pass the "Sunshine Protection Act," following its House approval, and publicly pressuring Senator Tom Cotton to support the bill.
• Senator Tom Cotton opposes the bill, citing past congressional attempts that were repealed due to negative effects like very late winter sunrises, and emphasizes prioritizing Arkansas residents' concerns about children going to school in the dark.
• The daylight saving time issue divides lawmakers largely along geographic lines, with coastal states like Florida and Washington supporting permanent daylight saving, while mountainous and Western states oppose it due to concerns about dark mornings.
• Despite its popularity among voters, the bill faces significant legislative hurdles in the Senate, where limited floor time and competing priorities such as defense funding and government appropriations are expected to delay or derail its progress.
• Senate Republican leaders acknowledge the complexity of the issue, noting that its impact varies by region, making a straightforward vote challenging and contributing to the bill's stalled status.