WASHINGTON, DC – The Beatles tune, “Here comes the Sun” rang true today as the Energy Conference Committee voted to extend daylight saving time by four weeks. The amendment to shorten the winter, lengthen the summer and save energy by extending daylight saving time, was first introduced by Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) to the Energy Bill in April.

“The beauty of daylight saving time is that it just makes everyone feel sunnier,” said Rep. Ed Markey, a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the author of the 1986 legislation that added three weeks of daily saving time to the calendar.

“Today, we shed some additional light on the need for conservation with our daylight saving extension,” said Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). “Not only will Americans have more daylight at their disposal for an additional four weeks of the year, we will also be keeping our energy consumption as a nation down. Kids across the nation will soon rejoice with the extended daylight on Halloween night that will allow for an additional hour of trick or treating. Studies by a leading auto safety group have also shown that extending daylight saving will save dozens of lives on the roads each year.”

The legislation accepted today would extend daylight saving by four weeks, starting the second Sunday of March and lasting through the first Sunday of November. The extension of daylight saving would become effective one year after the enactment of the Energy bill. The bill also calls for a study on the impact of daylight saving on energy consumption to be conducted no later than nine months after the enactment of the bill.

“In addition to the benefits of energy saving, less crime, fewer traffic fatalities, more recreation time and increased economic activity, day light saving just brings a smile to everybody’s faces,” said Rep. Markey.

The Upton-Markey amendment is supported by studies which show that early daylight saving time and longer days decrease the number of fatal traffic accidents, reduce crime rates, and provide relief for individuals suffering from “night blindness.” A broad coalition of groups including organizations like the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores and the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation Fighting Blindness, and an array of small businesses which support American pastimes, from barbecue to baseball to boating support the legislation to extend daylight saving.