No More Changing Clocks? Congress Just Voted to Make It Permanent

Every March, it feels like our bodies take a hit when we move our clocks forward. Waking up an hour earlier always seems to take a toll. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but now, things might finally change. The debate over changing the clocks could be ending, at least in the House.

What the Sunshine Protection Act Would Mean for Your Daily Schedule

This week, the Sunshine Protection Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a 308-117 vote, earning support from both parties and President Donald Trump. If it becomes law, Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year. However, people in Washington state should note one big tradeoff: winter mornings would be much darker.

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In January, Wenatchee Could See Sunrise as Late as 8:45 a.m.

If daylight saving time were in effect year-round, the sun would rise an hour later in winter and set an hour later in the evening. This would have a big impact in the Wenatchee Valley. In mid-January, sunrise would be around 8:45 a.m., so commuters, students, and early-morning workers would be heading out into complete darkness for several weeks in the middle of winter.

There is a real benefit in the evenings, though. On those January days, daylight would last until well after 5 p.m., giving families more time to enjoy the evening after work and school.

The Bill Heads to the Senate — and the Clock Is Ticking

People who support the bill say brighter evenings would boost economic activity in winter and let kids spend more time outside being active. On the other hand, opponents say darker mornings could be dangerous. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said the bill would cause "absurdly late" winter sunrises and force children to walk to school in the dark.

Senator Patty Murray from Washington has spoken in favor of the bill. After the House vote, she urged the Senate to act quickly and asked Minority Leader John Thune to bring the Sunshine Protection Act up for a vote.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American Medical Association, and the National Sleep Foundation have all called for year-round standard time instead. They argue it better matches our bodies to natural daylight.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where it has faced resistance before. One thing is certain: the debate about how many more Mondays in March we have to wreck our bodies is possibly coming to a close.