A proposal to make daylight saving time permanent is finding bipartisan support in the House after its passage in the Senate.

But it’s unclear when – or if – the lower chamber will take up the legislation as leaders punt the effort to the back burner in favor of other pressing matters, including responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The Senate unanimously approved a measure Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States next year. The bipartisan bill, named the Sunshine Protection Act, would ensure Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year.” (AP News)

Many on both sides agree that clocks should not be changed twice a year, regardless of whether the switch is to standard or daylight time.
 

Article originally published March 12, 2021: It’s that time of year when we “spring ahead” and switch to daylight saving time (DST). There is a good chance that this annual adjustment of the clock will damage not only your wallet but your health, too.

This weekend, Americans will change their clocks and lose an hour of sleep, all because of a senseless and outdated government policy. Changing between daylight saving time and standard time isn't just an inconvenience to people everywhere — it has real repercussions for Americans' health, economy and public safety.

It’s time, as they say on Twitter, to #locktheclock. We need to put an end to the century of back-and-forth. After we spring forward this weekend, we should make daylight saving time permanent.

On Sunday, people in most areas of the country will set their clocks ahead one hour, making it so that darkness falls later in the day. (Clocks will revert, or “fall back,” on Nov. 6 — a federally enforced seasonal shift.) But making daylight saving time permanent would, almost certainly, give the people what they want — whether they say so or not.

The Senate on Tuesday approved a proposal to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, which if passed in the House and signed by President Biden, would mean Americans would never again have to set their clocks back an hour and lose an hour of afternoon daylight in the fall and winter.

If enacted into law, it would also mean that early risers lose an hour of daylight in the mornings in November, December, January and February.

Last week, “U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Ed Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country.” (Senate.gov)

The right supports the bill, arguing that we should adopt permanent Daylight time.

The left generally argues against twice-yearly clock changes but is divided as to whether Daylight or Standard time should be adopted.

On Tuesday, a bipartisan collection of senators introduced a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, a move that would allow Americans to stop changing their clocks twice a year.

This weekend, Americans will “spring forward” and adjust clocks one hour ahead to comply with the Daylight Saving Time method that has become a regular part of Americans’ lives. The change lasts from Sunday, March 14, and goes until Sunday, November 7.