Lawmakers debate Daylight Saving Time once again By HPN Staff It’s something many dread – seasonal time change, going from Daylight Saving Time to standard time – and a recent report shows it causes more than fatigue and schedule disruptions. “Spring forward” and “fall back” could be detrimental to health. Researchers studied medical data from the state of Indiana, which did not adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) until 2006. Most of the state is on Eastern Time while a few counties operate on Central Time. Since adoption of DST, the entire state follows the practice regardless of which time zone. The study concluded that DST increases the incidence of acute myocardial infarction by more than 27% when people spring forward. Part of their findings says DST disrupts circadian rhythms, which play a critical role in regulating cardiovascular function, including blood pressure, heart rate and hormone levels. Why it matters Congress is considering the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time the permanent standard time. It was first introduced in 2018 but failed. It reappeared in 2021 and passed the Senate before dying in the House. Lawmakers remain divided on the bill, despite support from President Donald Trump. DST is believed to save energy because it prolongs daylight into the evening, and further promotes recreational opportunities, retail shopping and dining out. Yet, the annual change can disrupt airline and railway schedules, cause market volatility, and reduce productivity at work. Talks are being held at the state level as well. The Texas Senate recently passed a similar measure to make DST permanent, and more than 30 other states are considering 69 bills related to the time change. The bigger picture Daylight Saving time was first implemented in the United States in 1918 to save energy during World War I but was later repealed. It reappeared during World War II and remained in various forms in states and local municipalities. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act to make time change consistent throughout the nation. President Richard Nixon signed a law in 1974 establishing DST as the permanent standard time, eliminating the biannual shift, but it was repealed by President Gerald Ford just nine months later because the public did not like the dark hours of the morning it brought. In 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act, adding four weeks to DST. Should the US do away with the time-honored tradition, it would join 176 other countries that leave their clocks alone. What others are saying Proponents of time change say Daylight Saving Time maximizes daylight hours, providing more opportunities for outdoor activities, enhancing productivity and retail sales, and saving energy. Opponents argue that the benefits are negligible while the health consequences are greater than expected. More than half of Americans want to do away with the practice.
