Why Tom Cotton is a major obstacle to daylight saving time

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The House again approved legislation to make daylight saving time 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. Tom Cotton (R-AR).

Cotton has positioned himself as one of the chamber’s 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 legislation 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.

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