On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., brought out two bills championing Daylight Savings Time (DST).
Rubio unveiled the “Sunshine Protection Act” which would make DST permanent across the country. With the Florida Legislature passing a bill calling on Congress to make DST permanent across the Sunshine State, Rubio also brought out the “Sunshine State Act” to approve it on the federal level.
“Last week, Florida’s legislature overwhelmingly voted for permanent Daylight Saving Time for the State of Florida,” said Rubio. “Reflecting the will of the Sunshine State, I proudly introduce these bills that would approve Florida’s will and, if made nationally, would also ensure Florida is not out of sync with the rest of the nation.”
Florida House Speaker Pro Tempore Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami, who sponsored the bill in the state Legislature, also weighed in.
“As the 2018 session just recently concluded, I am proud to have sponsored HB 1013 which overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate,” Nunez said on Wednesday. “We have heard from countless Floridians about the importance of maintaining Daylight Saving Time, including benefits to our economy, public safety and health. I look forward to working with Senator Rubio and his colleagues on addressing this issue. I am confident that the Sunshine State will lead the growing movement across the nation in adopting DST year-round.”
Rubio pointed to a host of benefits in making DST permanent across the nation, including a JP Morgan Chase study which found a drop in city’s economies after ending DST in fall; a Brookings Institution study which found extended daylight in the evening reduces crime; and studies from the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Safety Research which found that there are less car accidents during DST.
The Florida Republican also insisted there were health benefits in making DST permanent including studies from the International Journal Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity and the Journal of Physical Activity and Health which found that children exercise more; and a report from the Journal of Environment Psychology which showed more cycling and walking when DST is extended.
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