On Sunday, millions of Americans woke up with the horrifying realization that they had lost a whole hour of sleep.
Yes, it’s the start of Daylight Savings Time, when we all “spring forward,” losing an hour of sleep in exchange for longer days in the Spring and Summer.
But while many of us are used to this ritual of changing our clocks twice a year, many have long argued that Daylight Savings Time is a thing of the past — and starting next year, it might be off our calendars for good.
Earlier today, the US Senate unanimously approved the “Sunshine Protection Act” to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. Its passage would mean we’d have longer daylight hours in the winter months, and never have to “fall back” or “spring forward” ever again starting next year.
The measure passed in the Senate, but will still need to be approved by the House of Representatives and by President Joe Biden. According to Reuters, Senator Marco Rubio said the measure would not take effect until November 2023, after input from airlines and broadcasters.
“I know this is not the most important issue confronting America but it is one of those issues that there is a lot of agreement. … If we can get this passed, we don’t have to do this stupidity anymore,” Sen. Rubio told Reuters. “Pardon the pun, but this is an idea whose time has come.”
“No more dark afternoons in the winter. No more losing an hour of sleep every spring. We want more sunshine during our most productive waking hours,” Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said, according to Axios.
The bill marks a remarkable rarity in today’s political climate: an issue that Democrats and Republicans actually agree on. It passed unanimously in the Senate, and according to Axios Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass the bill immediately. It isn’t clear how the House will vote, nor how President Biden stands on the bill.
But in addition to having bipartisan approval in the Senate, the “Sunshine Protection Act” appears to have the support of most Americans as well: according to a YouGov poll, Americans approve to the idea by a wide margin, 63% to 16%.
While changing the clocks has become a routine ritual for most Americans, it has long been a controversial practice. Many have argued that it’s a practice for a bygone era that causes more harm than good.
According to Time and Date, the modern practice of daylight savings time began in World War I, as an effort by many countries to save on fuel. It was then reinstated in the US by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, and stuck around. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 made it a nationwide practice, and though the bill gave states the choice to opt out, only Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t use Daylight Savings Time.
But over time, many people began calling for an end for the time-shifting. Many states over the past few years proposed legislation to make Daylight Savings Time permanent.
It’s more than people just not wanting to adjust their clocks: the practice can be harmful to people’s health. Health officials reportedly testified in a House hearing that the changing clocks can lead to sleep deprivation and health problems.
The earlier sunsets in the winter months after “falling back” can also lead to an increase in seasonal affective disorder, according to Healthline.
And “springing forward” can cause a real hassle for parents of young ones, don’t quite understand the concept: “There’s not enough bourbon in the world to get me through this daylight saving hell,” a mother of a 6-year-old recently told the New York Post.
But there’s a potential downside, or so history tells us. According to the Washingtonian, the United States ended Daylight Savings Time for a period in the 1970s, and “people hated it.” While the sun set later in the day, it also meant that the mornings were very dark, causing problems for kids trying to get to school.
When multiple kids were struck by cars, politicians said they “made a mistake” and repealed the bill. However, accidents in the afternoon reportedly fell thanks to the bill, and it also reduced fuel usage.
An hour can make a big difference, and Daylight Savings Time has definitely been a hotly-debated issue in recent years.
But it seems most people, in Washington and across the US, seem to be in favor of permanent Daylight Savings Time.
What do you think of this idea? Should we keep the clocks “sprung forward” for good? Share this story with your thoughts!
