South Lancaster News

The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to end the biannual clock changes associated with Daylight Saving Time. The resolution, sponsored by Senator Scott Martin (R-13), seeks to establish a consistent year-round time.

Senate Resolution 46 calls for federal action to eliminate the transitions between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time each spring and fall. At least 29 states have introduced similar legislation, with Arizona and Hawaii already observing permanent Standard Time under existing law. Federal bills S.29 and H.R. 139 propose making Daylight Saving Time the new permanent standard time while allowing certain areas to choose Standard Time.

Previously, Martin introduced resolutions advocating for permanent Daylight Saving Time. However, Senate Resolution 46 does not specify whether to adopt permanent Standard or Daylight Saving Time; it simply requests a consistent year-round time.

Research indicates that changing clocks twice annually leads to increased accidents, health issues, and productivity losses exceeding $400 million each year.

“There have always been disagreements about whether we should follow Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time permanently. That has prevented movement on this issue at the federal level,” Martin stated. “For me, the most important thing is ending the practice of changing the clocks twice a year and all the negative consequences that come with it.”

Martin also addressed misconceptions about Daylight Saving Time's origins, noting it began as a temporary fuel-saving measure during World War I and was later reinstated during World War II before becoming widely adopted in 1966 under President Johnson's Uniform Time Act.