The possibility of ending the twice-yearly clock change has reignited a familiar debate in Rockville Centre, with some residents welcoming brighter evenings while others worry about darker winter mornings.
On July 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a bipartisan 308-117 vote. The legislation would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, eliminating the need to "spring forward" each March and "fall back" each November.
The bill is now at the U.S. Senate for consideration. A similar version passed in 2022 but never became law.
If approved by the Senate and signed by President Donald Trump, Americans would remain on daylight saving time year-round, gaining more evening daylight during the winter months.
Supporters say the proposal would eliminate the disruption caused by changing clocks twice a year while providing more usable daylight after work and school. They argue the extra evening light would encourage outdoor recreation, benefit retailers and restaurants, and improve quality of life.
Opponents, however, say permanent daylight saving time would produce darker winter mornings, raising safety concerns for schoolchildren and commuters while conflicting with many sleep experts' preference for permanent standard time because it better aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythm.
The United States has tried permanent daylight saving time before. During the 1973-74 energy crisis, Congress enacted year-round daylight saving time in an effort to conserve energy. The experiment proved unpopular, however, as millions of Americans found themselves traveling to work and school before sunrise during the winter.
The law was repealed less than a year later, and the nation returned to the current system of changing clocks twice annually.
The latest House vote has prompted mixed reactions from local residents.
South Hempstead resident Laura Szenczewski enthusiastically supports the proposal.
"Yes!” she exclained. “I want those longer summer nights!"
Rockville Centre resident Christopher Buckley believes permanent standard time is the better option because of its impact on students during the winter months.
"Standard time would be better," Buckley said. "I certainly don't want my daughter leaving for South Side High School every morning in the dark."
Another village resident, Harriet Izower, agreed.
“I don’t think it should be permanent because, in the winter, children will have to walk to the bus in the dark. In rural communities without sidewalks, it could be very dangerous.
Rockville Centre native Mark Delligatti also favors permanent standard time, saying changing business hours would make more sense than changing the nation's clocks.
"There is no reason opening and closing times couldn't be seasonally adjusted, if that is the issue," Delligatti said.
He also remembered the nation's experiment with year-round daylight saving time during the energy crisis of the mid-1970s. As a college student in upstate New York, he recalled walking to his 8 a.m. classes before sunrise, an experience that shaped his opinion on the issue.
If the Senate approves the legislation, it will be sent to the president for his signature. Until then, Americans will continue changing their clocks twice each year while the debate over whether the country should adopt permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time continues.
