Pingree Signs onto Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) cosponsored the Sunshine Protection Act, a bicameral, bipartisan bill that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the U.S. starting in 2023. The bill, companion legislation to the Senate's, which unanimously passed the chamber on Tuesday, was introduced in the House by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and is cosponsored by more than 40 Democratic and Republican Representatives.

"For more than a century, Americans have been subject to an outdated ritual that requires us to change our clocks twice a year, disrupting our way of life and creating unnecessary confusion," said Pingree. "In Maine, "falling back' means weeks of sunsets before 4 p.m. Making Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide means more time for kids to play outside after school. It means we will finally be rid of this imbalance imposed on us twice a year. It's clear making this change has broad bipartisan support in Congress and across the country, and I'm happy to help make it happen."

If passed by the House and signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Sunshine Protection Act would apply to those states that currently participate in DST, which most states observe for eight months out of the year. States and territories that currently remain on Standard Time year-round would continue to do so. Many studies have shown that making DST permanent could benefit the economy and the country.

Background:

DST was enacted in the U.S. following Germany's 1916 effort to conserve fuel during World War I and its period of observance has since been lengthened. Originally mandated for six months, in 2005, Congress extended DST to begin the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. As a result, the U.S. has months of DST, and only four months of standard time (November-March). The U.S. has also gone through periods of year-round DST, including in 1942-1945 and 1974-1975.

The Sunshine Protection Act would eliminate the changing of clocks to standard time for those four months. If enacted, Americans would not "fall back" in November and would enjoy a full year of DST, instead of only eight months.

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