Whitehouse Calls on House to Pass Sunshine Protection Act

Press Release

As Daylight Saving Time ends and Americans prepare to set their clocks back an hour, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is urging the House of Representatives to take up and pass the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. The Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent in March, sending it to the House of Representatives.

"The outdated ritual of "falling back' disrupts our daily routine and darkens our lives -- in a very literal sense," said Whitehouse. "This past March, the Senate passed my bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. I'm hopeful we can get this bill to the President's desk and give Rhode Islanders more afternoon sunlight to enjoy during the cold, dark winter months."

Daylight Saving Time began Sunday, March 13, and ends this Sunday, November 6. In the last five years, nineteen states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to mandate year-round Daylight Saving Time, but Congress must act before states can adopt these changes.

There is considerable evidence that making Daylight Saving Time permanent would boost the American economy and protect the public health. Studies have shown that economic activity is reduced during Standard Time, and permanent Daylight Saving Time would lead to greater energy savings for families. Research suggests that the extra hour of afternoon sun leads to fewer car accidents and evening robberies on our streets. Permanent Daylight Saving Time would reduce the risk of stroke and heart problems by eliminating the biannual transition. Research also shows that the switch to Standard Time in the fall leads to an increase in depressive episodes.

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