Why permanent daylight saving time has failed in the US before

(NEXSTAR) – Congress is closer to making daylight saving time permanent in the U.S. once again after the House passed the Sunshine Protection Act on Tuesday. Should the Senate pass the bill and President Donald Trump sign it into law, winters could soon feel reminiscent of the early 1970s.

Under the Sunshine Protection Act, states that are not exempt would have to observe daylight saving time year-round. Simply put, that would mean not setting our clocks back an hour in November of the year the law takes effect.

As easy as it sounds, observing daylight saving time year-round is a bit more complex, as history shows us.

US has back-and-forth relationship with clocks

The U.S. began observing daylight saving time in 1918 as part of an energy-saving effort, but it lasted for only a year. It came back in 1942 during World War II, but it was chaotic because states and localities were allowed to decide when they wanted to switch between daylight saving and standard time.

Sixty years ago, the Uniform Time Act standardized the twice-a-year clock changes. Seven years later, in 1973, the U.S. again observed year-round daylight saving time amid a national energy crisis.

At first, the emergency daylight saving time bill signed into law by President Richard Nixon was well-liked. In December 1973, it had a nearly 80% approval rate, according to the New York Times.

By February, that had dropped to 42%.

Soon, parents were sending their........

© The Hill