WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) talks about bipartisan legislation to create "red flag" gun law during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol March 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. The law would make it possible for a judge to place a restraining order on a person's gun ownership if there is evidence that he or she has become a danger to themselves or others. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
It’s that time of year again. Come Sunday at 2 am it’ll be time to spring your clocks forward and complain about Daylight Saving Time.
But this Sunday might be the last time that we have to deal with remembering if it’s time to spring-forward or fall-back — if U.S Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) legislation is passed.
The Sunshine Protection Act would make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country with more light at the end of the day and less in the morning.
This is the second time Sen. Rubio has introduced this legislation. Last year, Sen. Rubio introduced the same bill along with one that would allow Florida to make the change themselves. Sen. Rubio’s home state of Florida voted overwhelmingly to establish DST permanently throughout their state, but couldn’t make the change official because the change can’t take effect without Federal approval.
The Sunshine Protection Act didn’t make it through the Senate Commerce Committee last year, and Sen. Rubio hopes that it will be different during this session.
A release from the Senator’s office listed a number of benefits including reports that quoting a 27 % decrease in robberies because of the additional sunlight as well as a reduction in childhood obesity, reduced car crashes, and benefits to the economy among others.
Daylight Saving Time has been around since World War I in an effort to conserve fuel used to produce electricity. At the time, it lasted for six months. Then, in 2005, Congress changed the law for DST to start on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November, lengthening the time to eight months.
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and most of Arizona already don’t follow DST and wouldn’t be affected if this legislation is adopted.