U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) is pleased to announce unanimous Senate approval of S.623, the Sunshine Protection Act. Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of this legislation to make Daylight Saving Time the new, permanent standard time. The Senate-passed bill, which still requires House passage and the President’s signature, would delay implementation until Nov. 20, 2023.
“The public safety improvements, economic benefits, and the wellbeing of the American people are all excellent and credible reasons to embrace year-long Daylight Saving Time,” Hyde-Smith said. “I know the agricultural sector in Mississippi and across the nation desires this change. I believe the Sunshine Protection Act would give us an immediate and long-term boost after a terrible pandemic year and a very dark winter.”
Potential effects of making Daylight Saving Time permanent for the nation:
- Benefits the economy. According to a study by JP Morgan Chase, which found that there is a drop in economic activity of 2.2 percent – 4.9 percent when clocks move back.
- Benefits the agricultural economy, which is disrupted disproportionately by biannual changes in time by upsetting the synergy between farmers’ schedules and their supply chain partners.
- Reduces car crashes and car accidents involving pedestrians. Better aligning daylight hours to drivers’ standard work hours’ increases visibility. Also reduces the number of vehicle collisions with wildlife by 8-11 percent.
- Reduces childhood obesity and increases physical fitness. According to studies, children see an increase in physical activity during DST.
- Reduces the number of robberies by 27 percent, because of additional daylight in the evenings.
- Reduces energy usage.