U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023, a Federal bill, for the 118th Congress of the United States, aiming to end the long-standing practice of changing clocks twice a year. The bill has been introduced ahead of Daylight Saving Time, which is set to begin on Sunday, March 12.
According to Senator Rubio, “This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support. This Congress, I hope that we can finally get this done.”
Laurie Lendon of Delaware, Ohio is in favor of the permanent switch, stating “The time changes leave me off-kilter for a few days. I always feel like I have jet lag without the benefit of traveling anywhere.”
Jeff Smith, another resident of Delaware, Ohio, is also in favor of the change. “Although at one time Daylight Saving Time made sense for the time-period, it is no longer relevant to our day. It is more of a hindrance when it gets darker in the evening, limiting both work, home, and personal matters.”
Ohio State Senator Andrew Brenner, of Ohio’s 19th District, when asked said “we should consider going to DST permanently.”
The quote that wins the internet today comes from Bobby Brush, also of Delaware, Ohio putting time change in to it’s truest perspective. “Time change only affects those who set an alarm clock on Sunday 2 days out of 365.”
At the time of this writing, no one has spoken out against a permanent switch.
If the Sunshine Protection Act were to pass, it would mean that states would not have to switch their clocks back an hour in the fall, nor would they have to move them ahead an hour in the spring. Instead, the clocks would remain the same year-round.
Several states have already passed legislation to permanently stay on Daylight Saving Time.
It remains to be seen if the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 will be successful in passing through the 118th Congress, but it is clear that many people are in favor of the permanent switch.