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House-Passed Sunshine Protection Act Awaits Senate Vote to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

House-Passed Sunshine Protection Act Awaits Senate Vote to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July with a bipartisan vote of 308-117. This legislation aims to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, thereby eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes observed by most Americans. Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida, the House sponsor, has publicly advocated for the bill's passage, urging the Senate to approve it and send it to President Trump for his signature. Despite this momentum, the bill has not yet been scheduled for a vote in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has acknowledged significant disagreement among senators regarding the proposal, with some members supporting it and others opposing it due to concerns about dark winter mornings. President Trump has also voiced support for making daylight saving time permanent, encouraging Republican senators to pass the bill 'ASAP' and stating that Americans are 'sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year.' As of now, without Senate approval,...

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Daylight saving time 2026: When do clocks change and fall back?

Daylight saving time 2026: When do clocks change and fall back?

Are the clocks changing this weekend? Here is exactly when daylight saving time ends in 2026 and how to prepare your clocks so you don't miss a beat.

House to Vote on Mandating AM Radio in All New U.S. Vehicles

House to Vote on Mandating AM Radio in All New U.S. Vehicles

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979) during the week of September 14. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) in the House, and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in the Senate (S. 315), aims to require the U.S. Department of Transportation to mandate AM broadcast radio as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States. This would be at no additional cost to consumers. The push for this legislation began after several major automakers, particularly electric vehicle manufacturers, started removing AM radios from new car models, citing electromagnetic interference from EV drivetrains as a reason for disrupted audio quality. Broadcasting organizations nationwide are actively lobbying for the bill's passage.

House Republicans Introduce Legislation to Restructure Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Funding and Authority

House Republicans Introduce Legislation to Restructure Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Funding and Authority

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act. This legislation aims to restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an independent consumer protection agency. A key component of the proposed bill is a change in how the federal government funds the bureau. Currently, the CFPB receives its funding directly from the Federal Reserve, which provides it with a degree of independence from congressional appropriations. The new act, co-sponsored by Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., would require the CFPB to go through the annual congressional appropriations process for its funding. Additionally, the legislation seeks to clarify the scope of the CFPB's authority, which has been a point of contention since its inception. This move represents a significant effort by House Republicans to exert more congressional oversight and control over the agency's operations and financial resources.

Representative Frank Lucas Expresses Stress Over Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade War Impacting Agricultural States

Representative Frank Lucas Expresses Stress Over Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade War Impacting Agricultural States

Farmers and agricultural state lawmakers are bracing for the escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada, which is impacting supply costs and sales. President Trump's administration imposed new 50 percent tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade talks failed in late August. Canada retaliated with equivalent import taxes on American goods. Representative Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) voiced significant concern, stating that his district, which produces substantial amounts of beef, hogs, wheat, cotton, oil, and gas, relies heavily on world markets. He acknowledged President Trump's approach as a 'political and economic horse trader' but emphasized the stress these tariffs are causing in his district, expressing a desire for the trade wars to conclude so businesses can operate normally. Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet also criticized the trade war, highlighting its impact on prices for working parents and threats to Michigan jobs and manufacturing.

White House Endorses Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith's Buying American Cotton Act, Urges Congressional Passage

White House Endorses Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith's Buying American Cotton Act, Urges Congressional Passage

The White House has issued a Statement of Administration Policy expressing strong support for Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith's (R-Miss.) Buying American Cotton Act (BACA), S.1919. The administration indicated it would recommend President Trump sign the bill into law if passed by Congress. Senator Hyde-Smith views this endorsement as a critical 'call to action' to ensure the legislation passes by the end of the year. The BACA aims to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton and American-manufactured cotton products, such as yarns and fabrics, in cotton-based goods sold within the United States. This measure aligns with the administration's priorities of supporting American farmers and workers, revitalizing domestic manufacturing, and strengthening supply chains.

Washington State's I-5 Fife Curve Identified as Major Traffic Bottleneck Due to Unique Factors

Washington State's I-5 Fife Curve Identified as Major Traffic Bottleneck Due to Unique Factors

The 'Fife curve' section of Interstate 5 in Washington State is consistently identified as a significant traffic bottleneck, notorious for frequent backups. According to Yinhai Wang, a University of Washington civil engineering professor, three primary factors contribute to this congestion: heavy traffic volume, extensive merging and weaving due to numerous entrances and exits, and significant geometric changes in the roadway. The area sees a daily average of 206,000 vehicles, with numbers reaching 252,000 near the Tacoma Dome, making it one of the state's busiest sections. The presence of heavy semi-truck traffic, particularly to and from the Port of Tacoma, further complicates traffic flow as trucks' lane changes can disrupt vehicle movement. The concentration of interchanges for highways 18, 161, 167, 705, and 7 forces drivers to frequently merge and cut across multiple lanes. Additionally, the road's design, including exit-only lanes and angles, compels drivers to slow down, creating 'shockwaves' that ...

'Vanity projects': Dems say RFK Jr. focused on his shows, not measles

'Vanity projects': Dems say RFK Jr. focused on his shows, not measles

A group of Senate Democrats allege that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using taxpayer dollars to focus on his cooking show and podcast.

Washington State Experiences Nation's Fastest Cost of Living Increase, Ranks Fifth Most Expensive

Washington State Experiences Nation's Fastest Cost of Living Increase, Ranks Fifth Most Expensive

Washington State is experiencing the fastest rise in the cost of living across the United States, according to the "Prices We Pay" report by the Washington Roundtable and Kinetic West. The state now ranks as the fifth most expensive in the nation, trailing only California, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. The report highlights that Washington's relative prices have increased more than twice as fast as California's over the past decade. Key areas contributing to this surge include dining out (1st most expensive), gas prices (2nd most expensive at an average of $5.54 per gallon), buying a home (5th most expensive with an average price of $662,000), and groceries (7th most expensive, with families paying $151 more per month than the national average). Housing and utilities are also significant contributors to the financial pressure on residents.

U.S. Lawmakers Propose Reinstating Full Tax Break for Seafood Processors

U.S. Lawmakers Propose Reinstating Full Tax Break for Seafood Processors

U.S. Lawmakers Propose Reinstating Full Tax Break for Seafood Processors

House Committee Unanimously Approves DERA Funding Extension

House Committee Unanimously Approves DERA Funding Extension

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program through fiscal year 2029, allocating $100 million annually. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and co-sponsored by Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), now advances to the full House for consideration. DERA, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides grants and rebates for replacing or retrofitting older diesel vehicles and engines to reduce emissions and promote cleaner technologies. The program supports various equipment, including Class 8 highway trucks, construction, cargo, agricultural vehicles, and buses. Thirty percent of DERA funding is reserved for state grants, while other allocations support national grants, tribal and territorial grants, and school bus rebates. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised the committee's vote, emphasizing DERA's role...

ConocoPhillips Granted Exit from Climate Change Lawsuits in Washington State

ConocoPhillips Granted Exit from Climate Change Lawsuits in Washington State

A Washington state judge has granted ConocoPhillips' request to be removed from revised lawsuits filed by the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe and the Makah Indian Tribe. These lawsuits accuse several fossil fuel majors of downplaying the risks associated with burning oil and natural gas, contributing to climate change. The tribes had argued for a "clear connection" between ConocoPhillips' operations in Washington and their climate change tort claims. This decision follows a May ruling where a judge denied most of the oil industry's motions to dismiss the case, allowing it to move closer to trial. The original lawsuits were filed against ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips, and Phillips 66 entities in Washington state court. The judge's recent decision specifically allows ConocoPhillips to exit these revised legal proceedings.