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18h ago

Senate Faces Tight Window to Decide Year‑Round Daylight Saving Time

Senate action will determine whether the country keeps clocks forward year‑round with later winter sunrises or returns to seasonal clock changes.

Commuters walk through the morning bright sunlight coming from the 60 feet (18m) high windows in Grand Central Terminal in New York City on March 11, 2019 the first morning after Daylight Savings Time took effect March 10, 2019.
Trump wants to end clock changes with permanent daylight saving time, but the Senate may not act before Nov. 1
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Overview

  • The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14 and sent the measure to the Senate, and President Trump has publicly urged senators to approve it.
  • The Senate is in recess until Sept. 14, creating a narrow timeline for lawmakers to act before the scheduled Nov. 1 clock rollback unless the Senate moves quickly after returning.
  • Decades of federal studies by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy show only very small or negligible net energy savings from year‑round daylight saving time, with estimates ranging from about 0.03% to 1.5%.
  • Many sleep and circadian researchers say permanent standard time is healthier because permanent daylight saving time would delay winter sunrises in some places to nearly 9 a.m., raising safety and religious‑observance concerns.
  • Supporters point to economic gains for evening recreation, notably golf industry estimates of more than $1 billion a year, but the bill would create clear tradeoffs across regions, schools and faith communities and could spur states that have preauthorized switches to move if federal law allows it.