Senators Look to End Observance of Daylight Saving Time Nationwide

Daylight Saving Time is this Sunday and for those of you who who dread this bi-annual tradition, we may have some good news…The practice was started in European countries during World War I. By advancing clocks during warmer months, troops could cut artificial lighting and conserve fuel for the war. DST wasn’t adopted by the U.S. until 1966. At the moment, Hawaii and Arizona, as well as the five U.S. territories, do not observe DST. With a growing majority of Americans believing the practice is extremely antiquated, a group of bipartisan Senators are looking to end it. The bill initially proposed by Senator Marco Rubio was reintroduced earlier this week. The Sunshine Protection Act looks to end Daylight Saving Time by not ‘falling back’ an hour in November. It would instead be observed year round and would not change the country’s current time zones or the number of hours of sunlight. Studies have shown eliminating it could have multiple benefits on public health, public safety, and mental health. Sixteen states have passed similar legislation over the last few years, but in order to go into effect it requires change at the federal level.