Should daylight saving time be permanent?

This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

H.R. 139 amends the Calder Act to make daylight saving time the new permanent standard time. The bill also allows states exempt from daylight saving time to determine their own appropriate standard times. Sponsor: Rep. Vern Buchanan (Republican, Florida, District 16)
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Opponents say

    "The National Sleep Foundation understands the appeal of having longer, brighter evenings. Permanent DST may seem like you get more hours per day of sunlight, but in reality, the plan just shifts total bright hours from when we need them in the morning to later in the afternoon. DST essentially fights the natural order of our circadian rhythms, the natural sleep/wake process in our bodies. Our circadian rhythms rely on bright natural light in the morning to wake us up and to synchronize important biological processes, and dimmer light in the evening to make us sleepy and ready for bed. It’s unhealthy to alter our bodies’ sleep schedule to have more daylight hours in the evening. Morning darkness and evening light are counter to NSF recommendations for being your Best Slept Self™. A consistent year-round time system is agreed upon by NSF and other leading sleep and science-based organizations and NSF released a Position Statement on permanent Standard Time last year. Our sleep-wake cycle does not adjust to annual clock change, leading to negative effects on health and safety including cardiovascular disease, motor vehicle crashes, mood changes and depression, and metabolic abnormalities." Source: National Sleep Foundation 


    "It is the position of the AASM that the United States should eliminate seasonal time changes in favor of permanent standard time (ST), which aligns best with human circadian biology. Evidence supports the distinct benefits of ST for health and safety, while also underscoring the potential harms that result from seasonal time changes to and from daylight saving time (DST)." Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Proponents say

•      "Big Vote today (48-1!) in the Energy and Commerce Committee on a Bill including The Sunshine Protection Act, which will be making Daylight Saving Time Permanent! This is so important in that Hundreds of Millions of Dollars are spent every year by people, Cities, and States, being forced to change their Clocks. Many of these Clocks are located in Towers, and the cost of renting, or using, Heavy Equipment to do this twice a year is prohibitive! The House will be attaching The Sunshine Protection Act to "The Highway Bill." Great work by Troy Nehls, and all of the Members who voted, as well, for Railway Safety. I am going to work very hard to see The Sunshine Protection Act signed into Law. It’s time that people can stop worrying about the “Clock,” not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production. It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party. Take it! We are going with the far more popular alternative, Saving Daylight, which gives you a longer, brighter Day — And who can be against that — This is an easy one!" Source: President Donald Trump


•      "Having Daylight Saving Time year-round helps our tourism industry in New Jersey. I know my Floridian friend, Mr. Soto, also mentioned that, including the Jersey Shore. And not changing clocks is also better from a health and safety point of view, according to numerous studies." Source: Rep. Frank Pallone (Democrat, New Jersey, District 6)