The United States is moving closer to year-round daylight saving time. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved the “Sunshine Protection Act” by a vote of 308 to 117, which calls for the permanent advancement of clocks by one hour.
US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social in May that the bill would save “hundreds of millions of dollars” that people, cities, and states spend on changing clocks. “It is time for people to stop worrying about the ‘Clock’, not to mention all the work and money spent on this silly procedure that repeats twice a year,” he said.
Economic arguments and health risks
In 2013, the American Enterprise Institute estimated the cost of lost time associated with changing clocks at 2 billion dollars. However, FactCheck.org notes that this argument is less relevant today, as digital clocks switch automatically.
Experts have long warned that the annual clock change is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, traffic accidents, and other issues due to sleep deprivation. However, permanent daylight saving time may not resolve these concerns.
Expert opinions and potential consequences
In 2022, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocated for making standard time permanent, citing sleep experts who argue that it “best aligns with human circadian biology.” Phyllis Zee, a sleep medicine specialist and head of the sleep medicine department at Northwestern Medicine, noted that during daylight saving time “your body gets less morning light and more evening light, which can disrupt your circadian rhythm.”
According to AccuWeather, if daylight saving time becomes permanent, in New York on January 15, the sun will rise at 8:17 and set at 17:53. In Seattle, sunrise will occur at 8:52 and sunset at 17:45. In Minneapolis, the sun will rise at 8:47 and set at 17:57.
The “Sunshine Protection Act” now moves to the Senate, where its future is uncertain as some Republican lawmakers express skepticism about the change. Senator Tom Cotton (Republican from Arkansas) stated last year that he opposes the initiative, arguing that “late sunrises under permanent daylight saving time would be particularly harmful to schoolchildren and working Americans.”
Some states, including Arizona and Hawaii, have already made standard time permanent and are not affected by the bill. Another 19 states, including Alabama, Oregon, Minnesota, and Texas, have passed laws for permanent daylight saving time but cannot implement them until a corresponding federal decision is made.
Source: The Verge
