Daylight Saving Time: The Last Retreat?
As daylight saving time comes to an end, we face another clock change. The sun will be setting earlier, and, well, it’s that time of year again. But interestingly, some lawmakers might have different ideas about whether we should keep changing our clocks at all.
Efforts vary at both state and federal levels. Some legislators are calling for permanent daylight saving time, while others advocate for sticking to permanent standard time. And then there are those who want Congress to take action to establish a consistent national time scheme.
As of early September, there are four bills concerning daylight saving time being discussed in Congress. Two aim to implement year-round daylight saving time, while the others would let individual states decide whether to adopt it. All four bills are in committee, and one needs further consideration.
The Sunshine Protection Act, with versions in both the House and Senate, has gathered support since its introduction in January. Senator Marco Rubio, who has been pushing for this initiative multiple times while representing Florida, saw some success in 2021 when his bill gained bipartisan backing from the Senate. However, the companion bill introduced by Representative Vern Buchanan in the House didn’t quite meet the same fate.
Buchanan has introduced several iterations of the Sunshine Protection Act, and this year, he’s again attempting to advance the proposal. Instead of Rubio, Senator Rick Scott has crafted a Senate version of the bill.
Interestingly, Buchanan’s bill has attracted support only from Republicans. This includes a range of co-sponsors from various states, all united under this initiative.
Meanwhile, Scott’s version has garnered bipartisan support within the Senate. A committee hearing focused on this bill occurred in April, and it has since progressed, but additional steps are needed to comply with Senate protocols.
Unless Congress takes quick action, most of the U.S. is set to revert clocks back on November 2nd this year. The debate over timekeeping continues, raising questions about whether this will truly be the last retreat for our clocks.
