I personally know the throes of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically arises during fall and winter months when daylight hours are shortest (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Combined with the unwelcome inconveniences of adjusting our clocks twice a year, a measure that disrupts our body's internal clocks and takes days or sometimes weeks to readjust (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2020). We need something to change. That's why I call upon you all to support the implementation of permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the USA.

Moving the clocks forward gives us more daylight hours in the evening which has been proven to increase time for exercise, reduce crime rates, and lessen instances of car accidents (Brookings Institution, 2015). More importantly, greater exposure to daylight could help relieve the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder that nearly 10 million Americans suffer from each year (American Family Physician, 2000).

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the duration of DST by a month but it's time to make it permanent. By eliminating the need to change our clocks twice a year and lending us more sunlight, we can prevent the adverse effects that disrupt our circadian rhythms, affect our mental health, and unnecessarily complicate our lives.

Let's make daylight savings time a permanent solution for the United States. Support this change for healthier, happier, and safer lives. Sign the petition.