US changes time

Times are changing - 4th April 2022

A new bill approved by the US Senate, will see daylight saving time (DST) becoming a permanent feature all year if passed by the House of Representatives. The tradition of 'spring forward' and 'fall back', a common practice since the First World War in the US and many other countries, could be left behind as early as next year.

DST sees clocks shift an hour ahead in spring to capitalise on daylight hours in the evenings while they return to standard time in the fall to preserve morning light, which in theory reduces energy consumption. However, the new bill, titled the Sunshine Protection Act, promises to do away with this adjustment and make the summer time setting permanent.

The measure is a personal crusade for Republican Senator Marco Rubio from 'the Sunshine State' of Florida, which will benefit significantly from it. The US Senate voted unanimously to cease the practice in favour of adopting the summer setting as the USA's standard time only days after the annual 'spring forward' wound the nation's clocks ahead.

Supporters of the motion argue that children and those suffering from seasonal depression will benefit most, as it affords children the opportunity to venture outdoors after school later in the year. The increase in afternoon daylight will also lessen the effects of seasonal depression. Meanwhile, those opposed cite concerns over safety and learning conditions, on the grounds that the new standardised times will see children travelling to class in the dark, which increases the potential for accidents.

The bill has reached the House of Representatives, where it awaits debate and will require majority approval before President Joe Biden can sign off on the legislation. The White House is yet to take a stance on the matter.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has shown her support for the move and expressed her amazement at how swiftly the Senate had approved the measure. Nevertheless, although she hopes the House will vote in favour, she emphasised that the nation's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is currently the top priority for her chamber.