Washington, D.C. – As Americans prepare to set their clocks forward an hour, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is urging Congress to pass his bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. Whitehouse is the lead Democrat on the bipartisan bill, which is also sponsored by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).
“Many people spend months looking forward to this weekend, when clocks will jump ahead an hour and winter starts to fade,” said Whitehouse. “It’s time for Congress to take up our bipartisan legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent and brighten the coldest months with an extra hour of afternoon sun.”
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. and lasts through the beginning of November. In the past four years, eighteen states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to mandate year-round Daylight Saving Time, but Congress must act before states can adopt the change.
There is considerable evidence that making Daylight Saving Time permanent would benefit the American economy and public health. Studies have shown that economic activity is reduced during Standard Time, and permanent Daylight Saving Time would lead to greater energy savings. Spending more standard work hours in sunlight would reduce rates of seasonal depression. Americans exercise more frequently during Daylight Saving Time, reducing the risk of stroke and heart problems. Research also suggests that the extra hour of afternoon sun leads to fewer car accidents and evening robberies.
View the text of the legislation here.
Meaghan McCabe, (401) 453-5294
