(The hill) – Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) reintroduced legislation Tuesday to make Daylight Saving Time year-round, touting bipartisan support for the measure.
“I constantly hear from Americans that they are tired of changing their clocks twice a year – it is an unnecessary, decades-old practice that is more of a nuisance to families than a benefit to them,” Scott said in a statement.
The bill proposed permanently “advancing” time, meaning that clocks would not be turned back at the end of fall, so that sunrise and sunset would occur later in the day during the winter months.
“I’m pleased that President Trump is back in the White House and fully on board with LOCK THE CLOCK so we can pass this good law and make this common-sense change that will make the lives of American families easier and more beneficial,” Scott said .
His efforts are supported by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ron Wyden (R-Ore.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) supported .), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (DR.I.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martin Heinrich (DN.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).
“The breathtaking ritual of retreating and leaping forward has a very real impact on our economy, our health and our happiness,” Markey said of the bill.
“Let’s say goodbye to 4 p.m. winter sunsets and pass the Sunshine Protection Act for permanent daylight saving time – for permanently brighter evenings all year round.”
Scott’s move marks the latest chapter in the story long-running debate inside and outside Congress about whether to abolish the status quo and what permanent time would be better.
Trump called for abolishing daylight saving time last month, although even some lawmakers aren’t entirely sure what he wants.
“The Republican Party will do its best to abolish Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but powerful constituency, but it shouldn’t! Daylight saving time is inconvenient and very costly to our nation,” Trump posted on Truth Social in December.
The golf industry has previously advocated making daylight saving time permanent for brighter evenings, while sleep experts say it would be healthier to permanently turn clocks back for brighter mornings.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) is among the GOP skeptics of abolishing the time change.
“In some states, permanent daylight saving time has become a security issue, and a very serious one,” he previously told The Hill. “Basically, people who get up in the morning and go to work have had to do so in complete darkness for much of the year.”
Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who led the House version of the bill, said he expects the bill will be brought up at some point in a hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
