The debate over whether to make daylight saving time permanent continues to rage even as the twice-annual time change draws closer.
Daylight saving time will end in early November, and despite the House passing the Sunshine Protection Act earlier this year, it certainly looks as though millions of Americans will still have to roll their clocks back an hour on November 1.
The bill, which is supported by President Donald Trump, has not yet been taken up for debate by the Senate, and with that body likely to adjourn until the November elections without voting on the measure, it appears the time change will still occur.
In the past, Trump has claimed the “vast majority of Americans” are in support of the move.
“People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year. It is foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly,” he said.
Trump argued making daylight saving time permanent would decrease rates of violent crime, car crashes, and lower risk for cardiac issues, though the National Institutes of Health has said the scientific consensus is unclear on the subject.
Here’s what you need to know about the debate.
What is the current status of daylight saving time?
Under provisions of the Uniform Time Act, passed in the 1960s, daylight saving time is in effect from March to November each year. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 set the dates for daylight saving time as the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
States are permitted to opt out of daylight saving time, but states cannot opt for permanent DST. Hawaii and Arizona both opt out of the twice-yearly clock change.
The Sunshine Protection Act would seek to change that, establishing daylight saving time as the new permanent standard time for the entire United States.
More than a dozen states have already voted to adopt permanent daylight saving time if they were permitted to do so by Congress, but Illinois is not one of those states.
What do scientists say about a potential change?
There is not a scientific consensus on whether permanent daylight saving time would ultimately be a positive or a negative for Americans, but many groups are pushing instead for the adoption of permanent standard time. While the National Institutes for Health has said there has not been enough study on the impacts of permanent daylight saving time on health, studies have shown a possibility that since daylight saving time is “less aligned with human circadian biology,” it could result in “circadian misalignment,” which has been shown to increase cardiovascular disease risk and other health risks.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has argued for permanent standard time instead, arguing the seasonal clock changes can negatively impact sleep debt and increase traffic accidents.
They say permanent standard time would be more in line with the body’s natural rhythms, and would have positive health impacts.
“Permanent daylight saving time might sound appealing, but it works against our biology,” said Dr. Dayna Johnson, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health. “Our circadian system depends on morning light for alertness, and permanent daylight saving time would leave many of us waking and commuting in darkness for months, worsening sleep, safety, and overall health, especially for the workers and communities already carrying the heaviest sleep burden.”
How do Illinois political leaders feel about the possible change?
It’s unclear whether Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth would vote in favor of the legislation, and the state’s Congressional delegation was split on the measure. The state’s three Republican representatives, Reps. Mike Bost, Darin LaHood and Mary Miller, all voted yes on the measure in the House.
Democratic Reps. Nikki Budzinski, Sean Casten, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Robin Kelly, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Schneider and Lauren Underwood all voted yes, while Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García, Jonathan Jackson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez and Eric Sorensen voted no.
How would permanent daylight saving time impact Illinois?
Since Illinois is on the far eastern side of the Central time zone, experts warn permanent daylight saving time would have significant impacts to sunrise during the winter months. Sunrise in the state of Illinois would occur after 8 a.m. for a period of nearly two months during the winter, with the winter solstice seeing sunrise occur at approximately 8:15 a.m.
Sunset would occur after 5 p.m. during those months, but some critics have argued the later sunrise would make school children less safe as they head to class in morning darkness.
