DARIEN, IL — Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) with a vote of 308 to 117. The legislation was first advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee as part of an amendment to an unrelated transportation bill, and then it was approved by the House Rules Committee with a closed rule, allowing for no amendments and only one hour of debate.
“On Tuesday, the U.S. House ignored the overwhelming evidence supporting the health and safety benefits of permanent standard time and instead chose to force dark, dangerous mornings on millions of Americans who will suffer the effects,” said Dr. Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “We call on the Senate to reject this dangerous mandate.”
The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States except in states that have adopted standard time prior to the effective date of the bill; it does not allow states to change to standard time after the bill has gone into effect. Permanent daylight saving time would cause misalignment with human circadian rhythms, which are crucial for regulating sleep, mood, and overall well-being. This biological misalignment would lead to chronic sleep deprivation and other health complications. It would also raise public safety concerns by increasing the risk of traffic accidents and pedestrian deaths, particularly for children waiting for school buses and walking to school in the dark.
“Members of the House unfortunately chose sunshine for golfers over sunshine for our kids,” said Coalition for Permanent Standard Time Chair Dr. Karin Johnson. “H.R. 139 will cause widespread circadian misalignment, leading to health and safety risks especially during short winter days.”
The AASM supports the elimination of the biannual time change, as research has linked the switch to daylight saving time in the spring with increased risks of accidents, cardiovascular events, and mood disturbances. However, instead of making daylight saving time permanent, the AASM is advocating for the establishment of permanent standard time, which more closely aligns with the sun and is the healthier, safer choice.
The AASM supports the bipartisan Sunshine for Our Kids Act (H.R. 9638) and will advocate for a similar bill to be introduced in the Senate. This legislation would implement permanent standard time, but it would also allow states to choose permanent daylight saving time even after the bill goes into effect.
For more information and resources, visit ditchDST.com.
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About the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time
Established in 2023, the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time is a dedicated group of diverse organizations and individuals that support the elimination of biannual clock change in the United States through the restoration of permanent standard time. The founding organizational members are the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, Sleep Research Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms.
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country.
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