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It’s that time of year again. Get ready for the annoyance of losing an hour of sleep when the clocks jump forward early Sunday morning. Who thinks we ought to stop messing with our clocks twice a year and instead just make daylight saving time permanent?

Earlier today, I re-introduced a bill in the House that would allow states the option to observe daylight saving time year-round.

When it was implemented more than 100 years ago, the rationale behind daylight saving time was to help the economy and help reduce energy consumption by “pushing sunlight forward into the evening.” It was supposed to reduce the need for electric lights and allow people more daylight in the afternoon & evening to presumably spend money.

But as everyone knows, “springing forward” in March contributes to sleep deprivation – like a mini-jetlag. “Falling backwards” in November means it’s dark outside by the time many people get home from work. Both contribute to accidents and health issues, according to various studies.

I’ve introduced similar legislation in previous years, and hopefully this will gain some traction. We’re not living in the early 1900s anymore. It’s time to allow states the option to observe daylight saving time year-round.