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U.S. Senators Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., along with their Senate colleagues, have introduced the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, aiming to end the biannual clock changes by making Daylight Saving Time, DST, the permanent, year-round standard across the nation.
Senator Britt emphasized the widespread public support for this change, stating, “The American people are tired of the antiquated practice of ‘falling back’ every year. Alabamians want more sunshine, and it’s better for our mental and physical health. With the Sunshine Protection Act we would make daylight savings time permanent. I appreciate Senator Rick Scott’s leadership in working to ‘lock the clock.’”
The practice of adjusting clocks twice a year has been a subject of debate in the United States. In 2022, the Senate unanimously passed a previous version of the Sunshine Protection Act, but it stalled in the House of Representatives due to disagreements over adopting permanent standard time versus permanent DST.
Health experts have weighed in on the discussion, with some advocating for permanent standard time, citing better alignment with human circadian rhythms. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, for instance, has expressed a preference for permanent standard time over DST.
Despite these differing viewpoints, public sentiment appears to favor ending the practice of changing clocks. A 2023 YouGov poll found that 62% of Americans want to eliminate the biannual time change, though opinions are split between preferring permanent DST or standard time.
The reintroduction of the Sunshine Protection Act reflects ongoing efforts to address these concerns and streamline time observance practices nationwide. If enacted, the legislation would result in later sunrises and sunsets during the months that currently observe standard time, effectively providing more evening daylight throughout the year.
