Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today introduced the Sunshine for Our Kids Act, legislation to restore permanent Standard Time nationwide. The bill would end the annual switch to Daylight Saving Time in most of the country, and make Standard Time, the time we currently use between November and March, the default year-round. The bill is a bipartisan effort with Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-10) as a co-lead.

At present, two states use Standard Time year-round, and no state uses Daylight Saving Time year-round. While this legislation would default all states to permanent Standard Time, it does allow for states to institute permanent Daylight Saving Time through state law if they so choose. A brief national experiment with year-round Daylight Saving Time in 1974 was quickly abandoned amid widespread public dissatisfaction.

The biannual switch between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time has been shown to pose significant public health and safety risks, including increased motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular events, and mood disorders each time the switch occurs. While there is widespread public agreement that the twice-yearly clock switch needs to end, proposals to enact year-round Daylight Saving Time carry additional medical risks.

“For decades, scientists and medical professionals have highlighted the detrimental mental and physical health impacts of twice-a-year clock changes, particularly on children and teens,” said Rep. Scanlon. “The Sunshine for Our Kids Act will not only help children and teens during the most important years for mental and physical development, but will also promote public health and safety in our communities.”

“It's hard to find anyone who enjoys changing the clocks twice a year, yet Americans have been stuck with the same outdated policy for decades,” said Rep. Harrigan. “The Sunshine for Our Kids Act replaces that one-size-fits-all mandate with a smarter approach by making standard time the default while allowing states to decide what works best for their own communities.”

The medical community is in agreement that the country should switch away from moving our clocks forward and backward each year, and believes a switch to permanent Standard Time to align with our natural circadian rhythms would be the best possible solution. By switching to permanent Standard Time, Americans across the country will experience improved sleep and brain function, better physical and mental health, and greater safety as a result.

The bill is endorsed by American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), the Society for Research in Biological Rhythms (SRBR) and the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time.

“Permanent standard time is the healthier choice for all Americans,” said Dr. Abbasi-Fienberg, President of American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Scanlon for championing legislation that puts health and safety first and helps ensure that mornings are better aligned with natural light and human circadian rhythms.”

“Permanent standard time will lead to a healthier, safer, and more productive America,” said Dr. Karin Johnson and Jay Pea, co-chairs of Coalition for Permanent Standard Time. “Natural standard time has a proven track record of improving public health, student performance, and economic output. Permanent standard time ends the harms of clock changes while best aligning with human circadian biology. By ensuring adequate morning light, standard time reduces the risks associated with circadian misalignment, sleep loss, and unsafe dark morning commutes.”

Find the full bill text here.

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