Understanding the Transition as Daylight Saving Time Concludes
It's that familiar time of the year when a significant number of Americans have to realign their clocks and biological clocks as daylight saving time draws to a close this Sunday.
This change brings with it brighter mornings and darker evenings across most states. With the clock turning back by an hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, millions will get an extra hour of sleep, a change that many look forward to, while others see it as a minor inconvenience.
Which States Follow Daylight Saving Time?
All United States states, except Hawaii and Arizona, observe daylight saving time. However, the Navajo Nation within Arizona does follow daylight saving. None of the U.S. territories, such as Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, adjust their clocks either.
Interestingly, more states wish to adopt daylight saving time throughout the year, with nineteen states having enacted legislation to make this a reality for their residents.
However, for this change to happen, the federal law would need to be amended, which means Congress would need to act before states can implement these changes.
Public Opinion on Year-Round Daylight Saving Time
According to a recent survey, only 12% of American adults are in favor of the current system of daylight saving time, while 47% are against it. The same survey revealed that 56% of adults would prefer permanent daylight saving time. This would mean less light in the morning but more light in the evening. Conversely, 42% prefer permanent standard time, which would provide more light in the morning but less in the evening.
Efforts to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
There have been calls, including from the President, for Congress to pass legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent. This would end the twice-a-year time changes in the U.S.
The President has expressed his support for "more Daylight at the end of a day" and encouraged both the House and Senate to support this idea. However, attempts to halt the time adjustment have once again met with resistance in Congress.
A proposed bill, the Sunshine Protection Act, had bipartisan support and aimed to make daylight saving time the standard, permanent time. This bill was objected to by some, arguing that a permanent daylight saving time would make winter "a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans."
Opponents of the bill have expressed concern that changing the clock in winter would push winter sunrises to an exceedingly late hour, depriving Americans of morning sunlight that is crucial for safety and well-being.
The Sunshine Protection Act was first introduced in 2018, reintroduced in 2021, and passed by the Senate. However, it never came to a vote in the House.