The American Academy of Sleep Medicine opposes the Sunshine Protection Act, which the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee advanced to the full House on May 21, as part of an amendment to HR 7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act. The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent across the country, except in states that opt out prior to the effective date of the change. The transportation safety-focused bill that included the Sunshine Protection Act language was posted to the committee’s schedule for mark-up late in the evening on May 19, leaving advocates for permanent standard time and opponents of permanent daylight saving time little opportunity to address the public health and safety concerns with committee members or the public prior to the vote.
The AASM supports the elimination of the biannual time change through the restoration of permanent standard time, which evidence has shown is the optimal choice for public health and safety. Standard time is closely aligned with the position of the sun, which is important for the body as sunlight is the most powerful external cue for the human circadian rhythm. This internal “body clock” regulates the timing of alertness, sleepiness, and other biological functions. By artificially shifting the clock time an hour forward, daylight saving time causes a misalignment between clock time and solar time, interfering with our circadian timing and resulting in a condition known as “social jet lag.” This condition is associated with an increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and depression. If daylight saving time becomes permanent, then Americans will be living with social jet lag year-round.
As the bill moves forward toward the House floor, the AASM and the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time will continue to advocate against the Sunshine Protection Act and permanent daylight saving time in favor of permanent standard time, the healthy and safe option. We call on the House to remove the language from the current package and take the appropriate steps to allow for robust discussion and debate of this issue before making a decision that will negatively impact the health and safety of our nation.
