Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are moving forward with legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, eliminating the biannual clock changes that have been in place for decades.

Matthew VanHyfte, a spokesperson for the committee's Republicans, confirmed that the panel plans to notice a full markup of the bill on Wednesday evening. The legislation would end the practice of "falling back" to standard time each November, keeping clocks permanently set to daylight saving time year-round.

The push for permanent daylight saving time has gained bipartisan support in recent years, with proponents arguing that the twice-yearly time changes disrupt sleep patterns, harm public health, and create economic inefficiencies. Studies have linked the time transitions to increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents in the days following each change.

Similar legislation has been introduced in previous congressional sessions, including a Senate-passed measure in 2022 that ultimately stalled in the House. The current effort represents a renewed attempt by lawmakers to address what many consider an outdated practice that no longer serves its original purpose of conserving energy during wartime.

If enacted, the legislation would represent the most significant change to American timekeeping practices since the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which established the current system of daylight saving time observed from spring through fall in most of the country.