Daylight Savings Time (DST) will be permanent in the U.S. if a bill sponsored by Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio becomes law.
Enacted in the U.S. in 1916 to conserve fuel during World War I, Daylight Savings Time (DST) was implemented for six months. It was reinstituted during World War II.
From 1942-1945 and 1974-1975, the US went through periods of “locking the clock” or year-round DST, according to Rubio’s office.
Under the Energy Policy Act approved in 2005, the US Congress extended DST to begin on the second Sunday in March through the first Sunday in November. The Act took effect in 2007.
Under the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023, the biannual ritual of changing clocks would end.
“This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid,” Rubio said. “Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support – this Congress, I hope that we can finally get this done.”
If passed, the proposed legislation would not alter time zones nor change the daily number of daylight hours.
According to Rubio, so-called locking the clock would have economic and public safety advantages, including reducing energy usage and reducing the incidents of vehicle-related crashes, including those involving pedestrians.
The measure has 11 bipartisan co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate, including Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).
Twin legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL).
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 is the latest attempt to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. The Senate unanimously passed similar legislation in Mach 2022 and passed it on to the U.S. House for consideration, but it was never brought to the House for a floor vote.
