{"id":2630059,"date":"2026-07-15T11:18:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T15:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-tom-cotton-is-a-major-obstacle-to-daylight-saving-time\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T15:22:09","slug":"why-tom-cotton-is-a-major-obstacle-to-daylight-saving-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-tom-cotton-is-a-major-obstacle-to-daylight-saving-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Tom Cotton is a major obstacle to daylight saving time"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-tom-cotton-is-a-major-obstacle-to-daylight-saving-time%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2630059&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The House has approved legislation to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-group-of-senators-reintroduce-bill-to-enact-year-round-daylight-saving-time\/\" title=\"Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reintroduce Bill To En... ...\">make daylight saving time permanent<\/a> nationwide<\/a> through the Sunshine Protection Act, which would eliminate the biannual clock changes. President Trump has supported this move, citing public fatigue with clock shifts. However, the bill faces challenges in the Senate, primarily from Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who opposes the measure due to concerns about darker winter mornings affecting safety and children\u2019s school schedules. The legislation had previously passed the Senate unanimously in 2022 but was delayed in the house amid opposition from sleep experts and northern state lawmakers. Historically, attempts to implement year-round daylight saving time have faced setbacks, such as the 1970s energy crisis experiment that was quickly repealed after public backlash over early winter sunrises. Cotton has acknowledged a past misstep in not opposing the legislation earlier and now plans to oppose it again, highlighting the ongoing debate between health considerations and practicality of daylight saving policies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/house\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/house\/\">House<\/a> again approved legislation to make <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/daylight-saving-time\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"23152\">daylight saving time<\/a> permanent, reviving a proposal that has a history of receiving bipartisan support and broad public appeal. But despite clearing the House with a 308-117 vote, the measure now faces a familiar hurdle in the Senate: Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-cotton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"971\">Tom Cotton<\/a> (R-AR).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cotton has positioned himself as one of the chamber\u2019s most vocal opponents of locking the country into year-round daylight saving time, arguing that the change would produce dangerously dark winter mornings for much of the country. The Republican has said he will oppose the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/legislation\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"14\">legislation<\/a> that would keep clocks permanently set one hour ahead, contending that children would head to school before sunrise and commuters would face safety risks during the winter months.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4648655\/tillis-shaheen-recommend-mike-rounds-angus-king-senate-nato-observer-group\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate\u2019s NATO group leaders float Mike Rounds and Angus King as successors<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4649133\/watch-live-jay-clayton-testifies-senate-panel-dni-confirmation-hearing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Jay Clayton testifies before Senate panel in DNI confirmation hearing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4648146\/senate-democrats-block-defense-policy-bill-iran-war\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate Democrats block defense policy bill in protest of renewed Iran war<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The House-passed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4648220\/house-approves-permanent-daylight-saving-time\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4648220\/house-approves-permanent-daylight-saving-time\/\">Sunshine Protection Act<\/a> would end the twice-yearly clock changes by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-signals-daylight-savings-time-may-soon-become-permanent-praises-bill\/\" title=\"Trump Signals Daylight Savings ... May Soon Become Permanent, Praises Bill\">making daylight saving time permanent nationwide<\/a>, while allowing states to opt out and remain on standard time if they act before the new law takes effect. President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> has backed the proposal, saying Americans are tired of changing their clocks twice a year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill\u2019s biggest challenge lies in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a>, where individual lawmakers wield significant influence over what reaches the floor. Similar legislation cleared the Senate unanimously in 2022 after advancing by unanimous consent, but it later stalled in the House amid growing concerns from sleep experts and lawmakers representing northern states.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cotton said he made a \u201cmistake\u201d by not personally objecting to the legislation in 2022. In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cotton.senate.gov\/news\/speeches\/floor-speech-on-opposing-the-sunshine-protection-act\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cotton.senate.gov\/news\/speeches\/floor-speech-on-opposing-the-sunshine-protection-act\">speech delivered in October<\/a> 2025, Cotton explained he had thought another lawmaker would voice opposition, but a miscommunication led to the bill\u2019s passage. The Arkansas Republican has vowed not to make the same mistake again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cotton\u2019s opposition reflects a broader debate over whether the country should adopt the change. Medical organizations, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have generally favored permanent standard time, arguing it better aligns with the body\u2019s natural circadian rhythms. Supporters of permanent daylight saving time counter that later evening sunlight encourages outdoor activity, boosts commerce, and eliminates the disruptions caused by changing the clocks twice each year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">History also looms over the debate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congress briefly placed the nation on year-round daylight saving time during the 1973 energy crisis, hoping longer evening daylight would conserve fuel. The experiment quickly became unpopular as winter sunrises in many parts of the country slipped past 8 a.m., leaving children waiting for school buses in darkness. After months of public backlash, Congress repealed the policy in 1974 and returned to seasonal clock changes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/op-eds\/4586174\/move-on-from-daylight-saving-time-obsession\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/op-eds\/4586174\/move-on-from-daylight-saving-time-obsession\/\">OPINION: TIME TO MOVE ON FROM THE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME OBSESSION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cotton referenced the 1970\u2019s debacle in the speech delivered last year, asking, \u201cWhy should we repeat history?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The history of Congress\u2019s attempt to enact the change, paired with Cotton showing he plans to stand in opposition, could again make it difficult for supporters to secure enough momentum in the Senate to send the legislation to the Oval Office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House approves permanent daylight saving time, faces Senate hurdle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2630060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cotton-trump.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,46768,49392,5894,44538],"class_list":["post-2630059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-daylight-saving-time","tag-federal-policy","tag-politics","tag-tom-cotton"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/cotton-trump.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2630059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2630059"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2630059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2630063,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2630059\/revisions\/2630063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2630060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2630059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2630059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2630059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}