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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 3, 2022 04:14 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Russ Diamond |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Stop Changing Clocks |
| In the near future I will be introducing legislation end the outdated ritual of “springing forward and falling back” in Pennsylvania. Changing clocks to observe Daylight Saving Time (DST) was first launched during World War I as an attempt to save energy, but energy savings from changing clocks have historically been negligible at best. Due to the proliferation of air conditioning, energy usage under DST may actually increase. The phase-out of incandescent bulbs further minimizes energy differentials. Office buildings, manufacturing facilities, retail stores, other workplaces, and homes remain climate controlled and/or illuminated both day and night. In fact, there may be more negative side effects from changing clocks than benefits. Studies have shown that automobile accidents, workplace injuries, heart attacks, strokes, cluster headaches, depression, and suicides all increase in the weeks following clock changes. These interruptions of natural biological rhythms and sleep cycles can wreak havoc on job performance, academic results, and overall physical/mental health. Clock changes require farmers to make needless adjustments, as crops and animals live by the sun, not a timepiece. A 2016 study of 300 US metropolitan areas based on evidence from peer-reviewed academic journals by Chmura Economics & Analytics found that $434 million in annual economic losses are realized in those metro areas due to observing DST. Every Pennsylvania metro area included in the study indicated a negative economic impact from DST. A 2008 report by the Independent Institute estimated that the annual US “opportunity cost” of changing clocks could be as high as $1.7 billion. Changing clocks twice every year simply because we’ve always done it that way is not enough reason to continue the practice. Federal law allows a state to exempt itself from changing clocks and observing DST, upon action by the state legislature to do so. As the Keystone State, Pennsylvania should be the leader among surrounding states in ending the practice. My legislation will keep Pennsylvania on Eastern Standard Time permanently. Please join me in co-sponsoring this common sense legislation that will not only end the antiquated ritual of changing clocks, but will also help preserve the health, safety, well-being, productivity, and lives of Pennsylvanians. |
Introduced as HB312