The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a measure on Tuesday that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the United States next year. The so-called “Sunshine Protection Act,” would ensure Americans won’t have to change their clocks twice a year. But the bill still needs approval from the House, and the signature of President Joe Biden, to become law.
“No more switching clocks, more daylight hours to spend outside after school and after work, and more smiles—that is what we get with permanent Daylight Saving Time,” says Senator Ed Markey, the original cosponsor of the legislation.
Senators from both parties joined Markey on the chamber floor as they made the case for how making Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent would have positive effects on public health and the economy and even cut energy consumption.
“Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida says.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Americans want more sunshine and less depression—people in this country, all the way from Seattle to Miami, want the Sunshine Protection Act,” comments Senator Patty Murray of Washington.
Nearly a dozen states across the United States have already standardized DST.
Daylight saving time is a period between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the country are set one hour ahead of standard time. The United States has officially observed DST since 1918.
Americans last changed their clocks on Sunday, March 13. This year, DST will last until November 6.
Members of Congress have long been interested in the potential benefits and costs of DST since it was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. The proposal will now go to the House, where the Energy and Commerce Committee had a hearing to discuss possible legislation last week.
Representative Frank Pallone, the chairman of the committee, agrees that it is “time we stop changing our clocks.” But he says he is undecided about whether Daylight Saving Time or Standard time is the way to go.
Markey used a clever play on words—and maybe a little snark—when he said, “I call on my colleagues in the House of Representatives to lighten up and swiftly pass the Sunshine Protection Act.”
Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years. — Genesis 1:14
(Sunlight shines on the U.S. Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on February 21, 2022. AP/Patrick Semansky)
1st comment
What's so bad about changing the clocks twice a year??
Do you get more day time or
Do you get more day time or something? Wait that doesn't make sense... Or does it?
Sorry for this 3rd comment xD
My second comment is about when you don't change the clocks. lol I am so confusing.
4th comment
Lol I kind of like changing the clocks! :) I mean, it is kind of fun to go 'yay I get one extra hour of sleep' and then 'well I have to lose that hour again.' I also like the fact that changing it makes it get dark earlier in the winter, because it seems to make it comfier in the evenings when it is dark outside, plus it gets light "earlier".
@Mirela: I honestly don't see anything bad about changing clocks twice a year. And you technically don't get any more day time. There are still 24 hours in a day, no matter what. What changes is the wat your clocks are set, so it simply stays dark later in the mornings and stays light later in the evenings. Which is really nice in the summer, but it can make it harder to go to bed in the school year because it is still light outside so I want to be up. :)
Well, I mean, on the surface
Well, I mean, on the surface this sounds great! I get so mad when I have to get up when it's really an hour before, but I'm dubious here. I'm thinking there's going to be some kind of side effect we're not being told about here... It just seems off somehow. Maybe I'm wrong. Somebody let me know when I am.
6th comment
I am homeschooled so i like it because i can go out and clime more trees
Nooooooooo :(((((((((((((((((
Nooooooooo :(((((((((((((((((((
@ All/ This is Bella
I personally don't like DST and love when it ends. It's so much cozier in the winter. I hope it doesn't pass.
@William
You spelt "climb" wrong.
@CHACHU B
you spelled spelt wrong
This is Mylee
just a homeshool (homeschool joke XD
@Christian B
Haha, I'd ordinarily agree with you and laugh heartily at a burn well done, but aaaactually, I think that's a legit word, albeit older. You just don't see "spelt" anymore, mostly.
This is probably a good idea!
The USA has more heart attacks on daylight savings time then on any day of the year.
Yay!
Go Thomas Massie! Hate the time change! Love Daylight Savings time!
For all of you who are wondering about the effects of this...
The history of Daylight Savings!
Back in the long, long ago when most people were farmers, the government passed the Daylight Savings law, (which will henceforth be referred to as DST) to give farmers more daylight. In the winter, the sun would set earlier, making it where farmers had less time to work in the fields (by the clocks). This was helpful for farmers because other businesses changed their clocks to stay open longer so farmers could go to church, the bank, and other non-agricultural establishments in accordance with their schedule. However, it was not a scientifically necessary time change, like leap-year. So: DST -- helpful for farmers, but not necessary for keeping up with time.
**Flash forward to present day America.**
The current percentage of farmers in America: Less than 2% (So saith Google)
This means that the overwhelming majority of Americans are changing their clocks every year for no real reason. Yes, it's not that big of a deal to have to change the clocks, but it is annoying enough to make people wonder why we even do it anymore. So, since the DST has longer hours of daylight for your everyday businessman, Thomas Massie is trying to pass a bill that will make it DST all the time. No more changing of clocks, no dire scientific consequences, more daylight in the afternoons for you to go fishing with your dad after he gets home from work. (Just me? Who all's going to be fishing a lot this spring?)
If you have any more questions about DST or pushback against my argument, I am open and willing.
@Addie L
So, if we stay in Daylight Savings, that means that it will stay lighter 'later' and get light 'later' in the summer. but then when we get into winter, that means that it won't be getting light until like 9:00 where I live. It seems better to me to keep the regular time as well as DST, because that causes it to get light 'earlier' in the winter and get dark 'earlier' in the winter. Which is fine because since it is cold outside, you don't stay out late in the winter, and the dark gives a cozy feel when you curl up on the couch in front of a fire. Also, that statistic about the percentage of farmers in the US doesn't seem right to me. I mean, surely there has to be way more than 2%, considering all of the farm land and the things people raise?!?!
@Riley
It seems like there would be more, but think about how many people live in one apartment complex in NYC. 2% is still a lot of people, it's just a small percentage.
@Riley
I also am not sure how this will work in the winter, but I do know that I don't like changing the clocks every 6 months and we got along fine without DST before the 1920s and Arizona and Hawaii get along fine without it now, so...
@Riley
I also am not sure how this will work in the winter, but I do know that I don't like changing the clocks every 6 months and we got along fine without DST before the 1920s and Arizona and Hawaii get along fine without it now, so...
doesn't really do anything
I don't really get the idea since it doesn't do anything for us and I was talking to my dad and how they voted is that the sun will forever not match with the time since the sun will say its one and the clock says its noon. this is messed up I really hope the rest of the branches dont approve (but I have a feeling they will)
@Riley D
Yeah I agree there has got to be more than that I mean I live in a little town in PA and everywhere you look there is farmland (Cows, sheep, goats, corn grain etc.) must be more than 2%
@Hesperus
Yeah I looked up "spelt" and it exists, it was used in Britain. Then when America was freed and they changed the English language, it was then "spelled". Some people in the UK still use it, I think.
Bible Bee
Oh I forgot to say....
BIBLE BEE REGESTRATION IS OPEN xDD
@N&M A
Has it been a year already?? I feel like it wasn't that long ago that you announced the registration dates for 2021!! I feel old now.... Time flies.
@ Addie
I know!!! Time goes by so fast....:(
I only just realized Nationals was...5 months ago....:0