Vintage clocks, seen here at the Electric Time Company in Medfield, Mass., will need a reset to reflect Sunday’s time change.
Charles Krupa/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Charles Krupa/AP
As the clocks prepare to fall back, millions of Americans face the biannual ritual of adjusting timepieces and body clocks alike. This weekend marks the end of daylight saving time, a shift that brings brighter mornings but earlier sunsets to most of the nation.
At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, clocks will be set back by one hour, providing an extra hour of rest but also prompting the perennial debate about the necessity of this practice. While some welcome the additional sleep, others view the change as a disruption.
States and Daylight Saving Time
Currently, every state in the U.S., with the exceptions of Hawaii and Arizona, observes daylight saving time. However, a portion of the Navajo Nation in Arizona does participate in the time change. Additionally, U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands do not adjust their clocks, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
Interest in permanent daylight saving time is growing. According to the NCSL, nineteen states have passed laws that would establish permanent daylight saving time, pending federal approval.
The NCSL states that “because federal law does not currently allow full-time DST, Congress would have to act before states could adopt changes.”
Public Opinion on Daylight Saving Time
A recent AP-NORC poll indicates that only 12% of U.S. adults support the current daylight saving time system. Meanwhile, a larger portion, 47%, opposes it.
Moreover, 56% of those polled expressed a preference for permanent daylight saving time, which would result in darker mornings but lighter evenings. In contrast, 42% favor permanent standard time, prioritizing daylight in the morning.
Efforts to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Efforts to make daylight saving time permanent face hurdles. Former President Trump advocated for legislation to make this shift permanent, urging Congress to “push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day,” in a post on Truth Social.
Despite these calls, the legislative push has stalled. The Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida with bipartisan backing, aims to establish daylight saving time as the national standard. However, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas recently objected to the proposal, arguing that it would result in excessively late winter sunrises, depriving Americans of essential morning light.
Former Sen. Marco Rubio, also a Florida Republican, previously championed the bill, first introducing it in 2018 and reintroducing it in 2021. Although the Senate passed the bill in 2022, it has yet to be voted on in the House.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
