Washington, DC – Today, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) led the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in a hearing on Daylight Savings time. The full committee hearing, titled “If I Could Turn Back Time: Should We Lock the Clock?” examined the various issues around whether the country should continue “springing forward” and “falling back” each year with time.
The committee heard from experts, including Mr. Scott Yates, Founder of Lock the Clock Movement, Mr. Jay Karen, Chief Executive Officer, National Golf Course Owners Association, Dr. Karin Johnson, a practicing physician and professor of neurology at the UMass Chan School of Medicine Baystate, on behalf of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and Dr. David Harkey, President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Blunt Rochester’s opening remarks are below, as prepared, and the full hearing can be viewed here:
Thank you for holding this hearing, Mr. Chairman.
In our increasingly connected world, it’s more important than ever that we’re thoughtful about what it would mean to pick a permanent time for our country. The Senate has tried this before, but the bill stalled as this body took a harder look at how time changes work state-by-state. What works in my home state of Delaware may not work in California. But I know I speak for many Americans when I say it’s time to figure this out.
People across our country, are tired of the constant cycle of “falling back” and “springing forward.” I mean, who hasn’t forgotten to change the clock on their microwave and felt the immediate panic when you thought you were late to work? Or think about the parents of young children and pet-owners that have to adjust sleep and feeding schedules twice a year! But in all seriousness, the back and forth between Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time needs to end. We need to come to a resolution and stick with it.
Many states across our nation have started to consider legislation to pick a permanent time. Some, like Delaware, have pushed for keeping Daylight Saving Time—the time we’re in right now—permanently. Others have sought to keep standard time—when we “Fall back”—permanently.
But here’s the thing: These twice-yearly time changes have real impacts on real people. We know that changing the clock disrupts sleep, which can lead to negative health outcomes. Several studies have noted issues with mood disturbances, increased hospital admissions, and even heart attacks and strokes. We also know that being able to see the sun improves mental and physical health as well. But more than that, time changes can impact the safety of our communities. Darker commuting times increase the risk of injuries, and even death, on the way to school or work. My home state has one of the highest per-capita rates of pedestrian fatalities. And dark roads with tired drivers make it more dangerous for pedestrians. The important thing is that we land on something consistent and then make smart investments to keep people safe.
For example, there are programs that we authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that focus on commonsense safety improvements—but they are set to expire this Congress. I hope the committee will keep this discussion in mind when it comes time to reauthorize these infrastructure investments. Investments that could light up dark streets, add rumble strips to medians, turn chaotic intersections into roundabouts, and more. These are the kinds of smart policy choices we can make to protect people year-round, regardless of if we’re in Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time.
But the first step is getting us all on the same page! I’m looking forward to today’s conversation about the competing health, safety, and economic impacts of choosing a permanent time for our communities and moving the ball forward on this important issue.
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.