Assembly Joint Resolution No. 5–Assemblymen Gibbons, Berman, Humke, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Claborn, Collins, Dini, Freeman, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Koivisto, Lee, Manendo, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Oceguera, Parks, Parnell, Price, Smith, Tiffany and Von Tobel
Assembly Joint RESOLUTION—Urging Congress to allow states to extend Daylight Saving Time to conserve energy and to promote public safety.
Whereas, Congress established Daylight Saving Time in 1966 with the
passage of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, 15 U.S.C. 260 et seq., with
Daylight Saving Time each year beginning at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of
April and ending at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October; and
Whereas, To save energy following the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo,
Congress placed most of the nation on extended Daylight Saving Time,
which lasted for 10 months in 1974 and for 8 months in 1975; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Transportation studied the
results of extending Daylight Saving Time in 1974 and 1975 and found
that in March and April of each of those years, Daylight Saving Time
saved energy in the equivalent of 10,000 barrels of oil each day or a total
of 600,000 barrels each year; and
Whereas, During that same period, because pedestrian injuries are
more likely to occur in the dark than in daylight, it is estimated that 50
lives were saved and 2,000 injuries were prevented, as well as a savings of
approximately $28,000,000 in costs for traffic accidents; and
Whereas, In 1986, the date to begin Daylight Saving Time was
changed to the first Sunday in April, rather than the last, resulting in an
estimated savings of 300,000 barrels of oil each year; and
Whereas, In the average home, 25 percent of all electricity used is for
lighting and for small appliances such as televisions and stereos and is
directly affected by when the residents of the home go to bed and when
they get up; and
Whereas, By moving the clock ahead, thereby reducing the period
between sunset and bedtime by 1 hour, the average Nevada residence
could decrease the amount of energy consumed; and
Whereas, Daylight Saving Time also has a dramatic effect on safety,
as reported by several studies in the United States and Britain which show
that immediately following the end of Daylight Saving Time, pedestrian
fatalities quadruple, because many people are traveling home from work
or school at dusk; and
Whereas, Because many crimes are perpetrated in darkness, the longer
daylight hours can have an effect on the reduction of crime; and
Whereas, Americans generally express the feeling that having more
light in the evenings allows them to enjoy more outdoor activities; and
Whereas, Daylight Saving Time is used in many countries throughout
the world and was used for extended periods in the United States during
both World War I and World War II to conserve energy; and
Whereas, With fuel increasing in price and supplies diminishing, as
well as the critical importance of related environmental factors, it is
essential that we do what we can to conserve our energy resources; now,
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada,
Jointly, That the residents of the State of Nevada encourage our
Congressional leaders to explore all areas to enable us to conserve energy;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature hereby urges Congress to
allow states to extend the period of Daylight Saving Time from the first
Sunday in February to the first Sunday in November; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit
a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of the United States as the
presiding officer of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Secretary of Transportation and each member of the
Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.
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