A major push to end America’s twice-a-year clock changes moved forward Thursday after a House committee overwhelmingly approved legislation that would keep daylight saving time in place throughout the entire year.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 48-1 to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, a proposal aimed at eliminating the long-criticized ritual of changing clocks every spring and fall. The measure is expected to be folded into a broader five-year transportation package.
Backers of the legislation argue that switching the clocks disrupts sleep, contributes to more traffic accidents, and leads to an increase in workplace injuries. Advocates also say extended evening daylight during the winter months would encourage shopping, recreation, and other economic activity.
President Trump applauded the committee’s action in a social media post, writing that it’s “time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production.”
Despite the strong committee vote, the proposal still faces several hurdles. It must first clear the full House before heading to the Senate, where opposition remains from Sen. Tom Cotton and other lawmakers.
Cotton has argued that permanent daylight saving time would create unreasonably dark winter mornings, with many children forced to travel to school before sunrise across large portions of the country. Under the proposal, states would still have the ability to opt out of the system.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, who has introduced versions of the legislation every year since 2018, once again spearheaded the effort this year. The concept has drawn strong support in Florida, where supporters say extra evening daylight would benefit golf courses, youth sports, and outdoor activities.
The Senate previously approved the proposal unanimously in March 2022, but the legislation ultimately stalled when the House never brought it up for a vote.
Rep. Frank Pallone said permanent daylight saving time is “better for safety and will boost New Jersey’s tourism industry. Let’s stop changing the clocks twice a year.”
Daylight saving time, which moves clocks ahead by one hour during the warmer months, has been observed across nearly all of the United States since the 1960s.
The country previously experimented with year-round daylight saving time during World War II and again in 1974 during an effort to conserve energy. That later attempt, however, quickly became unpopular and was repealed within the same year.
{Matzav.com}
No more 4:13 Shabbos!
If only this would be the only issue. Davening Shachris would be very late. Time for religious Jews to request Standard Time as permanent.
Will this change make zman krias shma in the tri-state area, earlier or later?
Later.
Why can’t they do permanent standard time?
Take it up with President Trump. He might even understand.
This will be very challenging for both full-time working and full-time learning individuals partucularli, in the winter months.
Bad news for the frum world if it does come to pass. It will mean that neitz in the winter won’t be until after 8:00. Anyone who needs to be at work at 9:00 will have issues with Shacris on time. And that is in a place like NY/NJ. In a place like Cleveland or Detroit neitz could be after 9:00.
Last time this was proposed the farmers (who have a lot more clout than frum people) put a stop to it because cows wake up with sunlight. If they have to wait another hour to milk their cows and get the milk to the market, they may end up stuck with the milk overnight. Hopefully they will do it this time as well.
This is a whole horrible horrible thing. This is a disaster for inzireh mentshin across the country.
The only not from ours who seemingly who like it are the ones who live in the eastern part of the time zones. Anyone who lives mid-time zone to the west of the time zone, does not like it.
That means that for nearly 16-17 winter weeks, it will be dark until about 8:15 each morning. Certainly easier for the ותיקין people but a real challenge for the working people who wish to daven at a לכתחילה מנין. I see a disaster for the mood on people each morning; especially children.
It’s not for 16-17 weeks. More like 3-4 tops. When you exaggerate, you lesson your impact.
instead (if the reason is not to have to change the clock twice a year) why not have the standard time permanent it will be good for everyone.
anyone in education notices the difference on the students when it comes summer and the clock is changed forward the children go to bed late but regardless they have to be in school by 8:30 – 9:00 they come to school very tired not well rested which has a chain reaction they struggle with proper behavers more fights going on between students doing wild things in the outdoors getting involved in trouble etc. etc. every parent every teacher or educator will tell you this.
so if you want to grow up a nice generation changing the clock permanently to D.S.T. in not the right choice rather keep the standard time all year round which will have all the benefits