WASHINGTON, (WLKI)- President Donald Trump is calling on Republican senators to advance legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, ending the practice of changing clocks twice each year.
In a social media post Tuesday night, Trump urged GOP senators to remove procedural holds on the bill, arguing Americans are ready to stop the twice-yearly time changes.
"People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year," Trump wrote, calling the practice "foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly."
Trump described the proposal as a bipartisan issue that Republicans, Democrats and Independents can support. His comments come as the Senate prepares for its August recess, although lawmakers could remain in Washington if pending legislation delays adjournment.
The measure, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, passed the House of Representatives in July with bipartisan support on a 308-117 vote. The bill was introduced by Florida Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan.
Supporters argue making daylight saving time permanent would eliminate the inconvenience of changing clocks while providing longer daylight hours in the evening year-round. Trump also cited studies he said show permanent daylight saving time could help reduce crime, lower traffic accidents, decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes, lessen seasonal depression, and improve safety for children traveling home from school.
However, the proposal continues to face opposition in the Senate.
Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton has been one of the bill's most outspoken critics, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would result in extremely late winter sunrises. Cotton has said darker mornings could negatively affect schoolchildren, commuters and working Americans by reducing access to morning daylight.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who introduced a companion measure in the Senate earlier this year, has urged the chamber to quickly approve the legislation and send it to President Trump for his signature.
If Congress approves the measure, the effects would be particularly noticeable in Indiana. According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, central Indiana would experience its latest winter sunrise at approximately 9:06 a.m., while the earliest winter sunset would occur around 6:20 p.m., shifting more daylight into the evening hours.
For now, the legislation remains pending in the Senate, where lawmakers have yet to schedule a vote. If approved by the Senate and signed by the president, the bill would permanently eliminate the twice-yearly switch between standard time and daylight saving time.