President Trump recently opined "the House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day," emphatically dubbing Daylight Saving Time "A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!" (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Some lawmakers believe it’s time to "lock the clock." Either choosing Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time. But the twice-a-year clock switching may be living on borrowed time.
That’s why the Senate Commerce Committee held the first Congressional hearing on the biannual time change for the first time in three years last week.
"We need to stop the clock. We need to find a solution and stick with it," said Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. "People across our country are tired of the constant cycle of falling back and springing forward. I mean, who hasn't forgotten to change their clock on their microwave. I think mine is still on the wrong time."
WE LIVE IN TIME: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND THE 'TIME LORDS' OF CONGRESS
President Trump has weighed in several times in opposition to the clock switching – both during this term in office and during his previous tenure.
In March, the President called it a "50-50 issue." But Mr. Trump again wrinkled the time conversation with a post on Truth Social. Despite not taking a stand when the U.S. "sprang forward," President Trump was emphatic about what should happen now.
"The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day. Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!," wrote the President.
Then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was able to advance a bill establishing permanent Daylight Savings in 2022 without objection from his colleagues. It subsequently died in the House. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
But the plan died in the House.
"The spring clock change to Daylight Saving Time is bad. But permanent Daylight Saving Time is worse," testified Karin Johnson a Professor of Neurology at UMass Chan School of Medicine. "The later sunrises and sunsets of Daylight Saving Time lead to higher risks of chronic diseases, including but not limited to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and these outweigh the short term risks of what happens with the time change."
Johnson also told senators that "year-round Standard Time is a natural, healthy choice promoting physical health, mental health performance and safety."
CONGRESS DEBATES FUTURE OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Johnson argued that the U.S. should not "pick something that’s been tried and failed twice before."
Johnson’s right. The U.S. has "sprung" forward to Daylight Saving Time – or its equivalent – on two separate occasions. In 1918, Congress voted for the nation to embrace Daylight Saving Time to conserve energy during World War I. Farmers pushed a repeal of Daylight Saving Time. So Congress undid it. President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the bill. But Congress overrode him. It’s one of only 112 successful presidential veto overrides by Congress in the history of the republic.
Lawmakers greenlighted the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act – triggering year-round Daylight Saving Time – in the mid 1970s. This was in response to the OPEC oil shocks. The nation was supposed to remain on Daylight Saving Time for two years. But the new time proved so unpopular that lawmakers unwound the clocks to Standard Time after only a few months.
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., represents a state that straddles two time zones. He's naturally skeptical of a one-size-fits-all approach to the Daylight Savings issue. (Alex Wong)
It all hinges on location. Some people in the north and east will benefit for some of the year. But the sun will come up too early in the summer and set too early in the winter. Residents on the western ends of time zones seem to get more sunlight later in the year as well. But other locales? Not so much.
"Hello darkness, my old friend," mused Cruz, channeling Simon & Garfunkel.
During the hearing, Cruz commented to a witness that "your time has expired."
And that may be the case with the time change. But not unless Congress can agree what to do.
Even the name of the March time switch is contrived. It’s classic Washington spin. "Daylight Saving." Lawmakers are essentially trying to convince the public they’re getting more of something – for free. But they’re not.
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There are only so many hours and minutes of sunlight in the day. Period. It’s always going to get too dark too early somewhere. And the sun will always come up too early somewhere. And even though Congress has a lot of clout, it certainly can’t control that.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/daylight-savings-about-sunlight