‘Lock the clock’: Tuberville renews push to make Daylight Saving Time permanent

WASHINGTON – “Well, it’s that time again.”

With that statement as Americans prepare to “spring forward” this weekend, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville renewed his effort to make Daylight Saving Time permanent at the federal level.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 12:01 a.m. Sunday when Americans move their clocks ahead one hour.

Tuberville (R-Auburn) has helped introduce the “Sunshine Protection Act’ in the 117^th, 118^th and, now, the 119^th Congress.

“I think I’ve given this speech three or four times in the last few years,” Tuberville said on the Senate floor. “This weekend, all of America and my constituents back in Alabama will spring forward to Daylight Saving Time. And I’m working very hard to make this hopefully, possibly the last time that we move our clocks.

“I recently joined my colleague, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), to reintroduce, for the third time, the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, at the federal level.”

Alabama and Florida are among 19 states that have passed legislation to make DST permanent, but it must first be made permanent at the federal level.

“Out of all the legislative efforts that I’ve been part of in my four years here in Congress, the thing I hear about the most from my people in Alabama is their desire to lock the clock,” Tuberville said.

Tuberville cited the DST, originally called “Wartime” during World War I to help conserve fuel. After the war, DST was discontinued nationally but states “continued to spring forward and fall back.”

DST was reenacted in World War II and repealed in 1945. In 1966, Congress passed legislation to establish national standards for Daylight Saving Time.

“All of this to say, changes to our clock might have made sense when it first began many, many years ago,” Tuberville said. “For one, the American workforce culture and lifestyles are vastly different than they were a hundred years ago. Plus, disruptive time change can have serious consequences on human health.

“Studies have suggested that the disruption of sleep patterns due to the time changes increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and physical injuries.”

Tuberville cited medical studies that showed changing the time twice a year led to a spike in fatal car wrecks, a higher risk of heart attacks, cluster headaches and depression.

He said other studies have proven that extra sunlight in the evening can lead to improvements in mental health, physical fitness, economic growth, and well-being.

“Congress should listen to the people and pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent,” Tuberville said. “The change would improve our health, strengthen our economy and benefit our farmers. It’s time for America to move forward and stop falling back.

“I’m looking forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get it completely across the finish line, to lock the clock, once and for all.”