Editor’s note: The reappearance of Daylight Saving Time each year at the start of spring has been spurring debate for many years now.  Many have long called for its abolishment due to its propensity to be blamed for seasonal depression, jet lag-like symptoms, and an often difficult adjustment period for the days following the clock change.  The proposed legislation would abolish the clock change, maintaining the time at what we have now.  So Sunrise in the heart of winter would be about 8:15am rather than 7:15, and sunset would be 5:30pm rather than 4:30, which would provide an additional hour in the afternoon at the end of the work day.  This change is might have repercussions for some farm operations and certain parts of the stock market, though most other industries won’t be very much affected. In 2023, this same bill with some differences passed the Senate but didn’t pass the House.  The bill, the Sunshine Protection Act,  has bipartisan support.  

For a little context on this practice, it was proposed by Benjamin Franklin in the late 1780s and  enacted in 1917, and made it so that people going out in the morning weren’t going into total darkness but rather dawn for many.  However, it didn’t have the intended effect of saving electricity by reducing lamp use, and in fact may have increased energy usage overall.  

Congresswoman Malliotakis said the following: 

The House of Representatives is considering H.R. 139, The Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country and end the twice-a-year practice of changing our clocks. For New York City, this would mean that during the winter the sun would rise at approximately 8:15 AM and set around 5:30 PM.

Before I vote, I want to hear directly from you. Your feedback is important to me, and I’d love to hear your thoughts by answering below.

Do you support making Daylight Saving Time permanent?

To vote yes on permanence, click here.  YES – KEEP DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND STOP CHANGING THE CLOCKS

To keep changing the clocks twice a year, click here.    NO – KEEP CHANGING THE CLOCKS TWICE A YEAR

For other: OTHER

From the Energy and Commerce Committee: 

House Passes Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16) applauded House passage of H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, which makes daylight saving time permanent.

“Millions of Americans across the country have asked Congress to reevaluate the current system of changing our clocks twice a year. Today’s bipartisan vote to ‘lock the clock’ is a response to the advocacy of our constituents and the evidence that year-round daylight saving time boosts economic activity and improves public safety,” said Chairman Guthrie. “I appreciate the work of my colleagues to advance this bill, and I look forward to the Senate’s consideration of this important legislation.”

“For years, Floridians have made it clear that they are tired of the outdated and unnecessary practice of changing the clocks twice a year. The biannual time change disrupts daily routines, inconveniences families and businesses, and no longer reflects the needs of our modern economy,” said Chairman Bilirakis. “Establishing permanent daylight saving time will provide Americans with greater consistency, more usable daylight in the evening, and the certainty that comes with ending the twice-yearly clock changes. Americans are ready to ditch the switch, and today we took an important step toward making that long-overdue goal a reality.”

“Today, the House took an important step toward ending the outdated practice of changing our clocks twice a year by passing my bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act. This commonsense legislation reflects what Americans have been saying for years: it’s time to lock the clock and make daylight saving time permanent,” said Congressman Buchanan. “Permanent daylight saving time will improve public safety, promote healthier and more active lifestyles and give families more daylight to enjoy after work and school. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this bipartisan effort, and I urge the Senate to send this long-overdue reform to the president’s desk.”

Background:

• The Sunshine Protection Act was included in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act, which passed out of the Committee by a vote of 48 yeas to 1 nay.

Banner Image: Fall back.  Image Credit – Katie Harp