Daylight Savings Time (DST)

Source: Wikipedia.

The Sunshine Protection Act is a proposed United States federal law that would make U.S. daylight saving time (DST) permanent, meaning the time would no longer change twice per year. Permanent DST in the U.S., leading to later sunrises and sunsets during the four months in which most of the U.S. currently observes standard time, results in less sunlight in the morning hours and more sunlight in the evening ones.

The bill has been proposed during several sessions of Congress. In 2022, the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent, although several senators stated later that they would have objected if they had known that the bill could pass. A 2023 bill has been introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), but is at a standstill for the time being. No iteration of the bill has passed the House.

Surveys from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) have found that about 63% of Americans would prefer to eliminate DST and NOT make it permanent. Researchers say that the change to DST has long-term negative consequences for our bodies and minds. Here are 7 things we've learned about how changing to DST negatively affects our lives.

The map below was prepared by WGN-TV in Chicago showing that if DST were made permanent, sunrise in parts of some northern states would not occur until after 10:00am. Many counties would see sunrise at around 9:30am.