Permanent Daylight Saving Time In PA? State House Passes Bill

HARRISBURG, PA — The state House of Representatives has passed legislation urging Congress to make daylight saving time permanent nationally. The measure was approved in a 103-98 vote.

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Lehigh County, who sponsored the bill, said studies show that permanent daylight saving time could save energy, reduce vehicular accidents and generally benefit people health-wise.

"Twice a year, Pennsylvanians are subject to adding unnecessary stress to our lives by changing our clocks between daylight saving time and standard time," Mackenzie wrote in a recent memo to colleagues.

"The 1966 Uniform Time Act brought some order to the country’s clocks by creating a uniform standard of time and creating several time zones. The act allows a state to become exempt from daylight saving time but does not allow permanent DST unless certain conditions are met.

"My legislation will allow Pennsylvania to follow permanent daylight saving time if the Congress of the United States permits states to do so."

Daylight saving time began on March 14 this year. Standard time will resume on Nov. 7.