The Push to Make Daylight Savings Time Permanent

On November sixth, we all set the clocks back one hour, gaining an extra hour of sleep. This marked the end of Daylight Savings Time, a practice that dates back more than a century. Daylight Savings Time adjusts time to make better use of the sunlight, and it lasts from March to November. In the other months, the US uses Standard Time.

Daylight Savings Time dates back to World War I as countries tried to better preserve power and fuel. Consumerism also played a role in this adoption. The Chamber of Commerce famously supported this policy because Americans who left work while the light was still out were more likely to shop in the afternoon. Sports and recreational activities are more common when there are more sunshine hours, making it better for people’s health. After the war, the policy was abolished, but states were allowed to keep it on a state-by-state basis. Because this caused transportation-related issues between the states, the Department of Transportation was given permission to institute it across the nation.

Many believe that the US should adopt either Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time year-round. Making daylight savings time permanent would produce many health and financial benefits. This proposed change means that people would see greater sunsets after 6 p.m. with fewer sunrises before 7p.m. Studies also show that changing the clock twice a year can increase the risk of seasonal, depression, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

The Senate recently voted unanimously to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, and it is being sent to the House of Representatives. Getting rid of the bi-annual clock change would have many health benefits, and it would increase the amount of sunshine hours in a day.

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