Sunshine Protection Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding me the customary time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, to all my friends on the other side who have held this floor hostage for weeks on end, let me save them the suspense: Nothing changes with this rule.

There is nothing in this rule that forces the Senate to take up the awful SAVE America Act. Nothing. The majority is simply attaching the SAVE America Act on to an unrelated State Department funding bill and sending it across the Capitol. The Senate can and will strip it right back out. Everybody here knows that.

The fact of the matter is that the SAVE Act is never going to become law because even Republicans know it is a disaster that will make it more difficult, if not impossible, for American citizens to vote.

What Republicans are doing here with this procedural move is not some master strategy. It is merely political theater, designed to settle another Republican family feud. If that is enough to flip Members who have held up business for weeks, boy, they are cheap dates.

What this rule does is bring to the floor four bills.

The first would make daylight saving time permanent. Look, everybody has an opinion about changing the clocks. I actually support this bill, but for folks getting crushed by rent, groceries, utility bills, and healthcare costs, is this really the best the majority can do? Is this really the most pressing issue before the American people at this moment?

Then, there are three bills Republicans tried to bring up weeks ago, before their own chaos brought the House to a standstill.

One is the Department of State funding bill that cuts funding for American diplomacy and foreign assistance.

Another would block the use of a merchant code for gun stores, making it harder to flag suspicious purchasing patterns.

Then, there is the so-called Take Care of America's Veterans Act. That title is doing a lot of work. That bill expands some benefits by putting the disability compensation of future veterans on the chopping block, particularly veterans suffering from tinnitus and sleep apnea.

In other words--get this--Republicans want disabled veterans to pick up the tab for other veterans' benefits. That is just plain wrong. How hard is it to understand that we shouldn't rob Private Peter to pay Sergeant Paul?

The Veterans of Foreign Wars agrees. They were in the Committee on Rules last night. The VFW strongly opposes this bill on behalf of the veterans it represents, and it published a political cartoon to protest the cuts. What did the Republican chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs do? He and other Republican Members sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs, asking the agency to review the VFW's accreditation. That accreditation is what allows the VFW to represent veterans before the VA and help them navigate the benefits system.

Disagree with the cartoon, fine, say so, but do not use the Federal Government to threaten the VFW's ability to help hundreds of thousands of vets. That sure as hell looks like retaliation to me.

Veterans fought for the right to speak their minds. They should not be threatened by their own government for exercising it, but this is what happens when a majority becomes completely consumed by its own dysfunction.

Meanwhile, Americans are working hard. They are doing everything they have been told that they are supposed to do. Yet, somehow, they can't get ahead. What is this Republican majority doing about any of it? Next to nothing.

One of the bipartisan things that we actually did do to try and bring down housing costs, Donald Trump refused to sign it. He let it become law without his signature because he was angry that the Senate had not passed his voter suppression bill.

I mean, imagine that. Think about how screwed up all of that is. Families cannot afford to buy a home, rents keep climbing, and the President of the United States used a bipartisan housing bill as leverage in his fight over election lies.

That tells us everything we need to know about this party's priorities. They will move heaven and Earth to protect Donald Trump's political power, but when it comes to making life more affordable for regular people, suddenly, they can't find the time. They can't be bothered.

Republicans control the House. They control the Senate. They control the White House. They control the Supreme Court. They still can barely keep the House floor open long enough to do the people's work.

Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve a hell of a lot better than this chaos, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, let me just respond to the gentleman by saying that whatever good is in this veterans bill is offset by the bad. Basically, they are saying we are providing veterans' benefits by cutting other veterans' benefits. I mean, this is a shell game.

That is why the VFW is furious, why they are pissed over this bill, why they have told their membership to contact Members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, to oppose it.

If this were a tax cut for billionaires, my Republican friends don't care about an offset. If it is an illegal war in Iran, they don't care about offsets. When it comes to providing veterans' benefits, all of a sudden, we have to find offsets. Those offsets that they have found to pay for this are by cutting other veterans' benefits. That is unconscionable. That is wrong, and everybody should vote ``no'' on that bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that we defeat the previous question. If we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to allow the House to take an up-or-down vote on an amendment to H.R. 8595, sponsored by Representative Schrier, which would reverse the cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that were imposed by the Trump administration that could have prevented the ongoing outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that has already infected thousands of Americans.

Last year, the Trump administration began illegally defunding Federal health and science agencies, firing scientists and researchers, and cutting programs that keep us healthy and safe.

One of the programs that Trump cut was called FoodNet, and it helped Federal and State public officials monitor and prevent outbreaks for eight different foodborne illnesses, including cyclospora. Yet, after Trump and his DOGE goons got their hands on this lifesaving program, the government stopped monitoring cyclospora.

That was stupid. It was dumb. Our country is now experiencing a full- blown outbreak of, you guessed it, cyclospora.

For the sake of everyone's health, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can reverse these dangerous cuts.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment into the Record along with any extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, to discuss our proposal, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

If there were people watching these proceedings and listening to my Republican friends, they may conclude that they sound a little defensive because they are, and they should be, especially on these veterans issues.

The bottom line is that the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts that are included in the proposed Take Care of America's Veterans Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the entire statement of the VFW and their strong, strong opposition to these cuts.

Mr. Speaker, I trust the VFW more than I trust the Republican millionaires' club that basically populate the United States Congress on their side in this Chamber. The VFW is saying we can do these benefits without punishing other veterans.

I find it amusing because the gentlewoman says we need to find offsets. Well, she voted basically to increase the debt by $4.7 trillion in the big, ugly bill, adding $4.7 trillion to the debt.

Included in that, by the way, is $70 billion, again, unpaid for, for ICE and CBP. Again, they have no problem with doing that. They have no problem with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and now America's trillionaire, and no problem with tax cuts for them that are not paid for, but when it comes to providing veterans' benefits, all of a sudden they have a problem?

By the way, just for the record, there is a discharge petition that has been filed to basically bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor without cutting other benefits for veterans. Every Democrat is on that, every Democrat. We can bring this to the floor. We can have this debate. We can vote on providing veterans additional benefits without cutting other veterans' benefits. That is the choice.

When I hear these speeches about, oh, we really are doing all that we can, and we are on the side of veterans, again, the VFW opposes this strongly. They showed up in the Rules Committee, filled up the Rules Committee hearing room yesterday to show their protest, their outrage, over what Republicans were doing.

Republicans don't have to do this. Republicans could provide veterans with the benefits they need without robbing other benefits that veterans need. It is that simple.

This is outrageous. This is outrageous what is going on, and people should not be fooled.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am glad the gentlewoman decided to go down this pathway because it is not only the Veterans of Foreign Wars that oppose this, but the Disabled American Veterans, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance, the Black Veterans Project, Reserve Organization of America, Veterans Education Success, Student Veterans of America, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Reserve Association, Minority Veterans of America, Common Defense, Vet Voice Foundation, National Security Leaders for America, Swords to Plowshares, The Chamberlain Network, Unite for Veterans Coalition, Veterans for Common Sense, Veterans for Responsible Leadership. I could go on and on and on.

The gentlewoman began by mentioning The American Legion. She may not know this, but as we speak, The American Legion in Texas, representing one of the largest memberships of The American Legion, has come out against this bill and is urging The American Legion nationally to now follow its lead and come out against this bill.

The bottom line is, the more veterans' organizations know that they are getting screwed, the more and more they are coming out against this bill. They are in favor of the Major Richard Star bill, which would provide and expand veterans' benefits without taking away other veterans' benefits. It is that simple.

This is a bad bill and, quite frankly, the more people realize what is in this bill, the more they realize the cuts in this bill that will adversely affect the veterans' community, the more and more people will come out against this.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Landsman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this debate has made one thing very clear. Republicans are not the victims of this chaos. They are the perpetrators of this chaos. There is only one party that controls this floor and all three branches of government. Republicans set the agenda. Republicans write these awful rules. Republicans control the schedule, and Republicans have chosen to spend week after week fighting with one another while regular working people are getting squeezed.

News flash to my Republican colleagues: The American people know the difference between working and pretending to work. They know that passing the same voter suppression bill again and again will not lower their rent. They know that stapling the SAVE Act onto yet another piece of legislation will not bring down the price of groceries. They know that threatening the VFW will not improve veterans' care. They know that changing or not changing the clocks will not change what is in their bank account.

Mr. Speaker, if Democrats were in the majority, we would begin every day with one simple question: How do we make life more affordable for working people in this country?

We would work to build more housing. We would work to lower rents and stop giant Wall Street firms from bidding families out of the market.

We would take on corporate consolidation and price gouging that are driving up the cost of food.

We would lower health insurance premiums and prescription drug prices instead of ripping coverage away to pay for more billionaire tax breaks.

We would make childcare more affordable. We would lower utility bills and end these stupid tariff taxes that show up in the price of nearly everything that people buy.

In addition, we would stay here and we would keep working until the job was done.

Now, I am not saying that every problem would be solved overnight, but we would put real solutions on this floor. We would allow debate. I mean, we don't debate anything anymore. Most of the bills that come to this floor are completely closed, where nobody can offer an amendment, take it or leave it.

I mean, you know, and when something did not pass, we would keep trying. We would keep trying until we got it right, until we helped people in this country. I mean, that is our job. That's what we are supposed to do.

When it comes to veterans, Democrats would fund the benefits that these veterans earned. We would not pit one generation of disabled veterans against another, and that is what my Republican colleagues are doing.

It is really not only frustrating; it is unconscionable. That should not be a partisan statement, by the way, in terms of helping our veterans. That is basic decency.

The American people deserve a Congress that is focused on affordability, not on Donald Trump's long list of petty grievances and attempts to rehash old conspiracy theories from 6 years ago. They deserve a majority that understands that power is not about controlling the floor. It is about using the floor to help people, to improve the quality of life for the people that we represent.

Republicans have had their chance. They blew it. They have wasted it.

I urge my colleagues, vote ``no'' on the previous question. Vote ``no'' on this rule. Let us end the chaos and get back to work for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1423 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying legislation.

Yesterday, the Rules Committee met and produced a rule, House Resolution 1423, providing for the House's consideration of four measures: H.R. 139, H.R. 8595, H.R. 9237, and H.R. 1181.

First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, under a structured rule.

The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled

by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations, or their respective designees, provides one motion to recommit, and makes in order 29 amendments.

Additionally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Financial Services, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.

Finally, the rule provides that once the NSRP Appropriations Act is passed, the Clerk shall add the text of S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, to the bill and transmit it to the Senate as a single item.

Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of business to attend to in the people's House this week, and part of that business is passing this rule and the underlying legislation.

Now, I am sure, as is always the case, that our Democrat colleagues will not be focused on the task at hand for even a mere second in this debate. It would be a miracle if they did, Mr. Speaker. You and I both understand that.

What they will end up doing is ruffling their own feathers, working themselves into a tizzy, and spending their time blabbering on about things that are unrelated to the business at hand. It is very typical behavior.

The rule before us today advances four separate pieces of legislation that all bear a common thread.

Let me say that again, Mr. Speaker.

The rule before us today advances four separate pieces of legislation that all bear a common thread: They serve the interest of the American people.

H.R. 8595 will make America stronger, safer, and more resilient through the championing of America First foreign policy so that our Nation and allies are supported while our adversaries are deterred.

H.R. 9237 is a comprehensive package of more than 60 bipartisan bills which will enhance and reform the delivery of healthcare and benefit services at the Department of Veterans Affairs for the entire veteran community, including military and veteran families.

H.R. 1181 would prevent intrusive monitoring by the Federal Government of Americans who exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms.

H.R. 139 establishes daylight saving time as the permanent, year- round standard time for the United States and would dispense with the semi-yearly practice of resetting our clocks. For far too long, the American public has spoken out against this disruptive practice. This Congress and this President will bring the stability to American households that our constituents have been endlessly seeking.

Advancing this rule and its underlying bills is the imperative before us today, Mr. Speaker. The American people demand our doing so, and we must act without hesitation or delay.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Haridopolos).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the American people need to take note of the amount of rhetorical smog emanating from the other side of the Chamber, because it is obscene. Our Democratic colleagues continue to weave together an entirely disingenuous and deceptive narrative that Democrats are the ones standing at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to supporting our Nation's veterans. That has never been the case and will never be the case.

If Democrats truly cared enough about veterans, they would spend their time supporting Chairman Bost's bill and not coming up with hack job, so-called solutions that do nothing to reform the VA and deliver high-quality care and service to those who have served this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is sad that our colleagues across the aisle have chosen this position. It is sad that they can gin up misleading narratives and hawk them around like someone delivering newspapers on a bike.

The bill before us ensures that combat-disabled servicemembers who were medically retired through no fault of their own receive the benefits they earned while maintaining equity across retiree populations.

This is what happens when personalities of the day and political gamesmanship subvert actual legislating, like what Chairman Bost and Republicans have been doing the entire time. The former doesn't deliver for veterans. It treats them like second-class citizens. Their solution is spending more money while delivering fewer outcomes.

Wow, color us shocked. It is a story as old as time.

Instead, the bill before us today would reduce net direct spending by approximately $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. In an era of growing deficits and debt, H.R. 9237 demonstrates that Congress can advance significant veterans' priorities while remaining fiscally responsible and reducing overall Federal spending.

Republicans are focused on targeted relief. This is targeted relief that focuses on combat-disabled veterans, includes additional fairness safeguards, and does not throw money at a problem with the meager hope of things fixing themselves by osmosis.

Let's run through what else you will not find in the cobbled- together, so-called solutions that Democrats are throwing their weight behind.

You won't find a unified Democratic effort to reform the VA's outdated construction and leasing processes that delay the opening of clinics and facilities across the country. In Chairman Bost's bill, Republicans are doing just that.

You won't find the Democratic commitment to ensure that veterans can continue to access the mental health care support services in the communities where they live nationwide. In Chairman Bost's bill, it is there.

You won't find Democratic solutions to slash government bureaucracy that hinders veterans from accessing the care they deserve and earned. In Chairman Bost's bill, they are there.

Mr. Speaker, that is the difference here. All Democrats see is another government program to funnel money into without any commitment whatsoever to improving the lives of those the program serves. They will contort the language they use and the policy gimmicks they cook up to mislead people and organizations into believing mistruths.

VSOs, the purpose-driven organizations that are dedicated to advocating for veterans, have been led to believe that Republicans somehow want to rob veterans of their benefits, but that is entirely untrue.

As is evidenced by President Trump's efforts, the efforts of Secretary Collins at the VA, and the veteran-driven legislation here in Congress, Republicans see veterans and meet them where they are.

Republicans see and understand the problems that veterans face every day and want to ensure that the VA is nimble, responsive, and rightsized so that veterans are not left in the dark and to fend for themselves.

Here is a final little nugget that I will leave you with, Mr. Speaker: The majority of our Republican members on the Veterans' Affairs Committee are indeed veterans. There is only one Democrat on that committee who is a veteran.

I trust veterans to know and understand what veterans need and deserve. People are actually attuned to issues veterans face as opposed to those who simply haven't the slightest clue.

Republicans are the ones with actual solutions here. We are not bloviating like so many have chosen to do. We are fighting for veterans, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining on both sides.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I have great affection and respect for VFW members. In fact, I have great respect and admiration for every organization that represents veterans. It is because of veterans that we speak English here today and that we are the greatest country in the world.

I would like to set the record straight about which veteran organizations are supporting this legislation. We have The American Legion, and I am not going to read the entire quote, but there is a quote here from Daniel Wiley, American Legion national commander, who said: ``For over a century, The American Legion has been the leading veterans service organization advocating for passage of nearly all major expansions or reforms to healthcare and benefits that benefit veterans and their families.''

``After thorough consideration of the legislative and regulatory environment, which included conversations with legislators who both agree and disagree with the bill, we believe TCAVA is the best path forward to get these crucial bills enacted into law.''

``The Take Care of America's Veterans Act represents our Nation's sacred promise to those who serve and those they leave behind,'' said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS.

The Military Officers Association of America has supported this legislation. The Wounded Warrior Project and 16 other groups support the legislation before us today.

Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, is quoted here: ``This legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand with the veterans, caregivers, and survivors who have sacrificed so much for our country.''

Mr. Speaker, I have page after page after page of quotes from these various

organizations that support this legislation. I believe they are correct in supporting the veterans legislation which is a part of this rule.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we don't side with killers. We side with the Constitution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

As I said at the outset of this debate, Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of business to attend to this week. Our work in service to the American people continues.

We are not in chaos, Mr. Speaker. The four underlying measures of this rule meet the priorities of President Trump, the administration, and the American people. We are focused on commonsense measures.

As we have seen across our country in recent weeks and months, the Democratic Party is being taken over by communists, and we know that communists have never made the world a better place to live.

A vote against this rule and its underlying measures is a vote to deny the priorities of all three of the entities I have mentioned and to deny positive progress. We would all do well to remember that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Sunshine Protection Act.

This act addresses an issue on which many Americans actually agree, and that is stopping the biannual process of changing our clocks.

Only 12 percent of Americans prefer to switch their clocks twice a year. Far more Americans recognize that the practice is inconvenient and, frankly, disruptive.

Stopping the twice-yearly time change benefits the health and well- being of all Americans. The time change inevitably disrupts sleep patterns and is especially disruptive to the sleep of young children and pets.

Time change also is associated with an increase in the rate of heart attacks and strokes in the days immediately following the change. Disturbingly, studies have shown that the increase in stroke rates after the time change is even higher for some of our most vulnerable populations. For example, cancer patients' stroke rates increase by 25 percent, and people over the age of 65 are 20 percent more likely to have a stroke in the days following the time change.

The Sunshine Protection Act would implement permanent daylight saving time and stop the twice-a-year change that disrupts our sleep and our health.

Taking this action will increase the sunshine hours in the evening, allowing many Americans to leave work for more sunlight in the winter months, not darkness. The increased evening sunlight will also provide a needed boost to our tourism industry. Extra sunlight means more time at the beach, more time eating out at restaurants, and more time doing outdoor leisure activities.

In my district along the Jersey Shore, tourists can enjoy beautiful coastal areas with serene beaches, embark on fishing ventures along the Atlantic Coast, enjoy a nice outdoor concert from iconic musicians in places like Asbury Park, and so much more. Last year alone, New Jersey welcomed more than 120 million visitors to our State, and they contributed more than $50 billion to our State's economy.

Our tourism industry needs the boost today more than ever. The Trump administration's policies, including high visa fees and the detention and harassment of legal tourists, have discouraged travelers from visiting our country because they simply do not feel welcome.

Meanwhile, Americans are facing an affordability crisis, forcing families to

make difficult tradeoffs, including forgoing summer travel. For communities like mine that rely on tourism for our local economies, an extra hour of daylight can make all the difference.

Extra daylight also helps to deter crime. Researchers at the Brookings Institution found that criminal incidents decreased during an hour of sunlight added to the evening following the springtime change. Making that extra sunlight permanent will help keep our communities safer.

All of these benefits clearly explain why 19 States have already voted to adopt permanent daylight saving time if Federal law changed because, right now, it doesn't allow them to do that. These States recognize the benefits, and it is time that Congress allows them to reap those benefits.

For States that have already chosen to follow permanent standard time due to the unique needs of their climate or location--and that includes Arizona and Hawaii--under this bill, they can continue to do so. Other States are allowed under the legislation to adopt permanent standard time prior to the bill's enactment.

Ultimately, the benefits of stopping the biannual changing of the clocks are numerous and clear. Moving to permanent daylight saving time will bring much-needed evening sunlight to communities across the United States.

It is time we finally end the process of springing forward and falling back. I urge my colleagues to support the Sunshine Protection Act, and I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), a member of our committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), another member of our committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to address the issue that was mentioned that in 1974 Congress voted to move to permanent daylight savings time and then reversed that decision.

I think that 50 years later, things are different. First of all, in the 1970s, when that was the case, things have changed in the sense that schools have pushed start times later in many districts, including in my district and dramatically fewer kids walk to school. Also, remote and hybrid work has had significant impact on Americans' commuting patterns. Things are not the same today as they were in the 1970s in terms of what people did and how they worked and how they went to school.

Passing this bill now also in the peak summer months gives everyone-- and that is schools, workplaces, transit systems--time to plan for this change well in advance of the darkest winter months, and I think that is important also. I am also confident that we are setting ourselves up to succeed this time around so Americans can reap the benefits of eliminating the time change.

Again, it is the time change that really is the problem. Most of us, whether you are for permanent daylight savings time or permanent standard time, don't want to see the switching back and forth.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and, again, I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to really stress, again, why I think that the status quo is bad. I mean, obviously, some people here--I think a majority--would like to see a permanent daylight savings time and some who I think are in the minority would like to see a permanent standard time.

However, the bottom line is we just can't continue the status quo, Mr. Speaker, because the science and research really is clear. It shows that springing forward and falling back twice a year is harmful to our health. It makes Americans less safe, and it is very unpopular.

Studies have shown increases, as I mentioned before, in heart attacks and strokes, mood and sleep disturbances, and hospital admissions in the days after a time change. Studies have also shown that increases in stroke rates with the time change are even higher for some of our most vulnerable populations, and that includes seniors, for example.

The bottom line is, Americans' safety is put at greater risk in the days after a time change, and disrupting our sleep has been shown to lead to higher rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes, crimes like robbery and workplace injuries.

Whether or not you agree what should be permanent, the bottom line is that sticking to the status quo and continuing to change our clocks is really the worst option. I am going to stand with the 56 percent of Americans in a recent poll who prefer a shift to permanent daylight savings time to give families more sunlight in the evening hours.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1423, I call up the bill (H.R. 139) to make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 139.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Sunshine Protection Act. This important legislation will finally end the outdated practice of changing our clocks twice a year and establish permanent daylight saving time.

For decades, Mr. Speaker, Americans have been asking a simple question: Why are we forcing families, businesses, and communities to adjust their schedules every spring and fall? The twice-yearly clock change is a relic of the past that no longer reflects the way Americans live, work, and conduct business in the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), the lead sponsor and my good friend, for working so hard on this legislation for quite a few years. It is finally coming to fruition. I know it is very important that we pass this bill.

In Florida, Mr. Speaker, this issue is especially important. Our State is home to families, retirees, small businesses, and industries that depend on predictable schedules and the ability to make the most of every single day. Floridians have made it clear that they are ready to ditch the switch.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, for his strong support of this bill.

Changing the clocks twice a year creates unnecessary disruption. I know you agree, Mr. Speaker. It affects sleep patterns, impacts family routines, creates confusion for businesses, and requires everyone--from parents and students to employers and employees and even our pets--to adjust their schedules for no meaningful benefit. After years of study and discussion, it is clear that Americans value consistency and certainty.

Establishing permanent daylight saving time would provide families with more usable daylight hours in the evening, giving people additional opportunities to spend time outdoors, support local businesses, participate in community activities, and enjoy the quality of life that makes our communities so special.

Mr. Speaker, I will add this: This is great for our kids. I want, and I know most parents want, kids to be outdoors now more than ever. The physical activity means so very much.

For small businesses, particularly those in tourism, hospitality, and recreation, as I said, additional evening daylight can help drive economic activity and create more opportunities to serve customers.

In a State like Florida, my home State of Florida, where tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses, and visitors alike.

This legislation is also about listening to the American people. Year after year, Mr. Speaker, polls show strong support for ending the outdated clock change. Families do not want another disruption to their routines. Businesses do not want unnecessary uncertainty. Americans want a commonsense solution. That is exactly what this bill provides, and I have spoken to thousands of constituents on this particular bill, Mr. Speaker, and they agree. They want permanent daylight saving time.

I am proud that this effort has received bipartisan support because this is not about politics. It is about practicality. Again, the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Pallone, I know strongly supports this bill, and he will have time to say that. It is about recognizing, Mr. Speaker, that our laws should keep pace with the needs of the people who we represent.

Today, we have an opportunity to take a meaningful step toward delivering something Americans have been asking for: consistency, convenience, and a better way to manage their time.

The American people are long past ready to ditch the switch. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical piece of legislation and sending it over to the Senate, and I know the President will sign it. I know he is a strong backer, and I appreciate his support again.

Finally, Congress needs to bring an end to the twice-yearly clock change.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack), my good friend and fellow Florida Gator.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), the original sponsor of the bill here in the House of Representatives and my good friend. I thank the gentleman for his persistency all these years, along with the former Senator Rubio, who is now our Secretary of State. This has always been a priority for both of them.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Steube), a fellow Florida Gator.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to add that the substance of this bill was heard in the Energy and Commerce Committee recently and placed into the surface transportation bill. It does have bipartisan support. Also, if you want your standard time under this bill, you can keep your standard time.

Mr. Speaker, 19 States, again, have passed legislation for permanent daylight saving time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), our good chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, who led this through the committee. We appreciate him so very much.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

I just want to read off some of the 19 States that proactively passed laws to lock the clock: The great State of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Delaware, Maine, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and of course, the great State of Florida, so it is not a Florida conspiracy.

Mr. Speaker, we want to give people an opportunity to go out in the sunshine, an extra hour a day. I am thinking, first of all, safety for our seniors, but also for our children. Our children are on these devices constantly, unfortunately. They should be given an opportunity to go out, and they should be encouraged to go out and play ball or whatever they would like to do with their friends.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong, very strong vote in favor of this bill. I will tell you that it is very, very important that we get this done as soon as possible.

In closing, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 139, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support for H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by my friend and fellow Floridian, Congressman Vern Buchanan.

This is one of those issues that has been highlighted here today that brings us together as Americans, regardless of party, no matter where you are. Everyone always asks the same question every year because we are all equally annoyed: Why in the heck are we still changing our clocks?

For decades, we have accepted this ritual of springing forward and falling back, even though it disrupts routines, throws off our sleep, and creates unnecessary frustration for families across the country.

I will say, Mr. Speaker, it was always a nuisance, but as a new mom with an infant child getting the baby on a sleep schedule--and all the moms and dads of infants know what I am talking about. You get your schedule going, and then you have to spring forward or fall back, and then you start cussing the dang time changes.

This is personal at this point. It is time we stop changing the clocks and we start using some common sense.

Mr. Speaker, there are lots of Floridians here in the Chamber supporting this bill because, as Floridians--we are The Sunshine State--we value sunshine.

It is critical that we do this because we all know very closely and firsthand that our communities thrive when our families have more daylight after work and after school. That extra hour means more Little League games, more evenings at local parks, more dinners at outdoor patios and restaurants, more customers walking through the doors of all of our mom-and-pop businesses, and more time for families to simply enjoy being together.

Again, as a Floridian, it is hot in the middle of the day in the summer. It gets nice in Florida in the afternoons and evenings. It would be nice for us to enjoy a little bit more time. I know I am making this about Florida, but I am just being honest: #MakeAmericaFlorida.

For a State like Florida that welcomes millions of visitors every single year, more daylight in the evening means more opportunities. This legislation does exactly what Americans have been asking Congress to do not just for years but decades: End outdated practices of changing our clocks twice a year by making daylight saving time permanent.

It also respects the choices of States that have already opted out of daylight saving time under current law. Let's be honest. There are very few things that everyone agrees on these days, but whether you are a parent, like me, trying to get your kids to sleep or get your kids out the door for school, or you are a small business owner, a farmer, a first responder, or someone who just wants one less thing to worry about, changing the clocks twice a year is a hassle that most Americans are ready to leave behind.

We all have heard the studies here in the debate today about the real benefits to ending these biannual clock changes. The research has suggested that eliminating the time changes improves public safety. As the wife of a first responder, I very much appreciate that. It reduces disruptions to sleep and could even provide energy savings.

This bill doesn't create any new Federal bureaucracies. It doesn't grow the size of government, and it doesn't impose costly new regulations. Instead, it simplifies life. It will be one less thing for the American people to worry about.

Sometimes the best thing in Congress that we can do is remove unnecessary burdens that no longer serve its purposes. That is exactly what we are doing here today.

Mr. Speaker, this is a practical, bipartisan solution whose time, pun intended, has come. Let's stop asking Americans to reset their clocks every March and November. Let's provide some certainty and consistency and a little more sunshine at the end of the day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act. I thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Vern Buchanan, for his efforts in advancing this and making this a real change that every American can get behind.