Americans would not have to reset their clocks from Standard to Daylight Savings Time (DST) if a measure re-introduced into the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) becomes law.
Under the Sunshine Protection Act, DST would become permanent eliminating the need for changing clocks to Standard time for four months.
In announcing the proposed legislation, Rubio called the clock-changing ritual “stupid.” “Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support,” Rubio said. “This Congress, I hope that we can finally get this done.”
Similar legislation was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL).
Enacted in the United States following Germany’s 1916 effort to conserve fuel during World War I, DST was originally mandated for six months. In 2005, Congress extended DST to begin the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. As a result, the U.S. has eight months of DST and four months of standard time (November-March).
Meanwhile, the U.S. experienced periods of year-round DST, including 1942-1945 and 1974-1975. This year, DST begins on Sunday, March 10 and ends on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
