PTA - Adamsville Elementary

Daylight-Saving Extension to Become Law

Aug 15, 2005

Congress recently passed a comprehensive energy bill, which included a provision that would extend daylight-saving time by a total of four weeks. Lawmakers agreed to begin daylight-saving time three weeks earlier, on the second Sunday in March, and extend it by one week to the first Sunday in November. The extension would begin in March 2007. As part of the bill, Congress will call for a study on how much daylight-saving time actually affects oil consumption.

National PTA sent a letter to House and Senate conferees requesting the inclusion of a study of the ramifications of the extension of daylight-saving time on the safety of schoolchildren. National PTA understands and supports the need to conserve energy. However, the need to secure reductions in energy consumption must be kept in balance with the safety of our children as they go to and from school. While National PTA is pleased that House and Senate conferees scaled back the original proposal to extend daylight-saving time in the winter months, it remains concerned about the potential safety issues the extension into March poses, as schoolchildren will be traveling to school while it is still dark.

National PTA adopted a resolution in 1974 opposing the extension of daylight-saving time into winter months due to the increased danger of traveling to school in dark hours.

From ?“This Week in Washington?” a National PTA online newsletter.