Now is a Good Time to Change the Time Change For Good
In 2019, the Washington State Legislature approved a law that would allow our state to stop changing the bloody clocks twice a year, but it needs approval from Congress.
So, while we're stuck in limbo, freshly elected to a new term, his fourth in the House of Representatives, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wa), has co-sponsored a bill called the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would empower states to chose whether or not they would like to observe Daylight Saving Time all year round.
Catch the Congressman's remarks on the topic speaking to KIMA-TV in Yakima below:
You can track the progress of the legislation, H.R. 1556, here. Unfortunately, this bill has been stuck in committee since early March, so there is quite a process in front of it before it can be signed into law. And for the record, this bill would make the Daylight Saving Time setting, the permanent setting, if individual states choose to go that route.
Daylight Saving Time has been around for over 100 years and many would argue it's usefulness is outdated compared to what it was first created for, but there are pros and cons to both sides of the debate.
Longer evenings, less artificial light and overall safety are what the proponents tout, saying more sunshine leads to a more active and non-sedentary lifestyle, plus, the tourism industry gets a bump from more light later into the evening. Those against cite the lack of saving money, that it literally can make some people sick and most of all it frankly does NOT save energy.
More on that here.