US changes time

Interesting times ahead - 4th April 2022

The US Senate has passed legislation that would make daylight saving time (DST) permanent, starting from next year. Like many nations around the world, ever since the First World War the United States has set its clocks forward during summer in order to make the days last longer into the evenings. This change is then rolled back each autumn, which theoretically conserves electricity.

However, the US Senate has now voted to do away with this switch. It's approved a bill making the summer months' DST a permanent, year round clock setting. The legislation, called the Sunshine Protection Act, is the pet project of Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, which is known as 'the Sunshine State'.

The Senate measure was approved by unanimous consent just a few days after the US implemented its annual 'spring forward' time change. Retaining the summer switch in winter would enable children to enjoy the outdoors for longer each day. As well as this, it’s expected to reduce seasonal depression, according to supporters.

By contrast, opponents of the legislation have expressed concern over access to education. They note that under the new system more children will end up making morning school journeys in the dark, increasing exposure to the dangers that this presents.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where it must also be approved by majority vote before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The White House hasn't yet taken a position on the matter.

After expressing her own surprise that the Senate had acted so quickly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she supported the measure. Although she’s in favour, she was at pains to point out that her chamber was more focused on tasks related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.