This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, continued his efforts to make Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent.
Last week, Rubio brought back the “Sunshine Protection Act.” Rubio championed that proposal last year after the Florida Legislature passed a bill calling on Congress to make DST permanent across Florida. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is cosponsoring the bill in the Senate while U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., are championing the proposal over on the other side of Capitol Hill.
On Tuesday, Rubio urged U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the committee, to support his bill.
“I respectfully request that the Commerce Committee consider and report S. 670, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2019, to the full Senate as soon as possible. The bill, which I first introduced in the 115th Congress, would end the biannual requirement to change our clocks between Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Standard Time. The legislation would not impact those states that currently do not observe DST, restrict states’ ability to opt out of DST, nor would it alter time zones,” Rubio wrote Wicker and Cantwell.
“This non-partisan issue, which affects all Americans, is not a new idea, but is one worthy of consideration by the committee,” Rubio added. “Last year, Florida’s legislature passed, and former Governor Scott signed, a law designating permanent DST. However, as you know, this requires amending the Uniform Time Act of 1966. Florida is not alone in the movement to end the unnecessary practice. In fact, many states have, and continue to consider measures which would make DST the standard time. Mississippi and Washington, for example, are just two of several states currently looking at the issue.
“With the vast majority of Americans participating in DST for eight months out of the year, it has become clear this antiquated practice no longer serves any purpose. Adversely, studies have shown the time change has negative impacts, and that extending DST can benefit the economy and reduce energy consumption. For these reasons, I respectfully request you consider this important bill in committee at the earliest opportunity,” Rubio concluded.
In the meantime, Rubio’s proposal got the support of President Donald Trump who took to Twitter on Monday to back the idea.
"Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me,” the president posted on Twitter.
