Yellowhammer Times

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has again advocated for the passage of The Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. Tuberville spoke on the Senate floor alongside Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and other supporters in an effort to force a vote on the bill. Despite their efforts, the measure did not pass in the Senate.

In his speech, Tuberville highlighted the inconvenience and health risks associated with changing clocks twice a year. "Mr. President, I come to the floor today to once again talk about the outdated practice of changing our clocks twice a year. This weekend, my constituents back home in Alabama and across America will be forced to change their clocks. As a result, it will be dark in Washington, D.C. at 5PM next week," Tuberville said.

He noted that making Daylight Saving Time permanent is a frequently raised concern among his constituents: "In the five years I have served here in the Senate, making Daylight Saving Time permanent is the number one issue that I hear about back home. And I’m proud to have joined my colleague, Rick Scott, earlier this year in reintroducing the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent on the federal level. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been brought to the floor for a vote."

Tuberville explained that while clock changes were originally implemented during World Wars I and II as temporary measures to conserve fuel and energy, they became standard practice only after 1966. He argued that these reasons are no longer relevant: "Changing our clocks twice a year might have made sense in the 60s, but it doesn’t make sense anymore. The twice a year time change doesn’t make sense today."

Citing studies from Northwestern Medicine and others, Tuberville pointed out potential health consequences linked to time changes: "We know the devastating impact disruption from so-called ‘Standard Time’ has on Americans’ health. Studies have suggested that disruption of sleep patterns due to time changes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and physical injury. Northwestern [Medicine] found that the fall back and the spring forward are connected to a 6% spike in fatal car accidents and a 24% higher risk of heart attacks. Think about that. Additionally, the long-term health effects linked to changing our clocks include weight gain, cluster headaches, and depression. You would think we would listen to all that."

He also referenced broader public health initiatives: "Bottom line: switching our clocks disrupts sleep patterns, and it has been proven time and time again to be harmful to the health. Thanks to RFK Jr.’s great work [at] HHS, a lot of Americans are taking their health more seriously […] by trying to eat healthier and to get more sleep. Switching the clock back and forth is the exact opposite of the Make America Healthy Again movement that RFK Jr. has championed. It’s bad for sleep, it’s bad for nutrition, and it’s bad for overall health."

Tuberville concluded by reiterating his commitment: "And for that reason, I push back and try to get this on the floor sooner or later, and I yield back to my colleague, Rick Scott."

Senator Tuberville serves on several committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP); and Aging.