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Antique clock being adjusted forward Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)GETTY IMAGES |
TOPLINE Last month, two proposals were submitted to Congress with the intention of making daylight saving time, which will cost Americans an hour of sleep on Sunday, a permanent change for the entire nation or for states that want to participate.
This Sunday at 2 a.m., the clocks will advance one hour as we switch from regular time, which starts in November, to daylight saving time, which is characterized by later sunsets.
On March 1, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced a Senate measure that would end the November time shift and make daylight saving time worldwide permanently.
Similar legislation, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, was filed by Rubio in 2021; it was successful in the Senate in March but failed in the House in December.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) introduced a measure in the House on March 8 that would waive the congressional approval that the Uniform Time Act demands in order for states to permanently implement DST.
Experts have long linked the beginning of Daylight Saving Time to a variety of health issues, such as disturbances of circadian rhythm, increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, as well as an increase in workplace accidents, heart attacks, and even fatal vehicle accidents.
Key Background
In order to enhance daylight during working hours and reduce the cost of energy required to light the night, daylight savings was implemented in the United States during World War I. Before Congress standardized the time change in 1966, states and local governments were free to implement their own time changes whenever they pleased, making it challenging for the transportation sector to plan interstate travel. States that want permanent DST claim that the two-yearly time change is a nuisance and is no longer essential to conserve fuel.
Tangent
In order to enhance daylight during working hours and reduce the cost of energy required to light the night, daylight savings was implemented in the United States during World War I. Before Congress standardized the time change in 1966, states and local governments were free to implement their own time changes whenever they pleased, making it challenging for the transportation sector to plan interstate travel. States that want permanent DST claim that the two-yearly time change is a nuisance and is no longer essential to conserve fuel. include Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington.
Surprising Fact
While the Uniform Time Act mandates that states get approval from Congress before making a permanent change to DST, states are free to make a change to standard time, which begins in November when the clocks are set back one hour. Hawaii and Arizona both observe standard time all year round.
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