The U.S. House voted Tuesday to approve legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent across the country, advancing a long-debated proposal to eliminate the practice of changing clocks twice each year. The bill, which has the backing of President Donald Trump, now moves to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, most Americans would remain on daylight saving time year-round, ending the spring and fall clock changes that have been part of U.S. life for decades. Any change would still require Senate approval and the president's signature before taking effect.

Daylight saving time is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour during the warmer months to extend evening daylight. In the United States, clocks typically move forward in March and return to standard time in November. Supporters of making daylight saving time permanent argue that later sunsets could benefit retail businesses, outdoor recreation and some sectors of the economy while reducing the inconvenience of changing clocks twice a year. Opponents, including some sleep and health experts, contend that permanent daylight saving time could result in darker winter mornings, potentially affecting schoolchildren, commuters and biological sleep patterns. Hawaii and most of Arizona already do not observe the seasonal clock changes, remaining on standard time throughout the year.