Current:Home > ScamsPermanent daylight saving time? Politicians keep trying to make it a reality. -Elevate Capital Network
Permanent daylight saving time? Politicians keep trying to make it a reality.
View
Date:2025-04-13 21:12:38
Americans are yet again preparing for the twice-yearly ritual of adjusting the clocks by an hour, and a group of politicians are sick of it.
Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have used the upcoming time change to remind Americans about the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act the U.S. Senate unanimously passed in 2022 to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023. Scott said in Friday a release the bill is supported by both lawmakers and Americans.
"It’s time for Congress to act and I’m proud to be leading the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act with Senator Rubio to get this done," Scott said.
Most Americans - 62% - are in favor of ending the time change, according to an Economist/YouGov poll from last year.
To Change or Not to Change:Do Americans like daylight saving time? 6 in 10 want to stop changing their clocks. Do you?
Only Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation), Hawaii and the U.S. territories follow standard time yearound. In the rest of the country, standard time runs from the first Sunday of November until the second Sunday of March. But clocks spring forward an hour from March to November to allow for more daylight during summer evenings.
Federal law prevents states from following daylight saving time permanently.
Rubio's bill failed to make it to President Joe Biden's desk in 2022. Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan, R- Brandon, introduced the act in the House last March for the current congressional session.
"We’re ‘springing forward’ but should have never ‘fallen back.’ My Sunshine Protection Act would end this stupid practice of changing our clocks back and forth," Rubio said in a Tuesday release.
Time change bills across America
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 bills have been introduced this year regarding daylight saving time and 36 carried over from the previous legislative session.
About two dozen states are considering enacting permanent daylight saving time if Congress allowed such a change. Twenty other states have legislation under consideration to have permanent standard time.
Several states, NCSL said, have legislation dependent on their neighbors following the same time change.
We've tried this before, and it didn't go well
Daylight saving time was made official in 1918 when the Standard Time Act became law, but it was quickly reversed at the national level after World War I ended, only coming up again when World War II began. Since then, Americans have tried eliminating the biannual time change, but it didn't last long.
From February 1942 until September 1945, the U.S. took on what became known as "War Time," when Congress voted to make daylight saving time year-round during the war in an effort to conserve fuel. When it ended, states were able to establish their own standard time until 1966 when Congress finally passed the Uniform Time Act, standardizing national time and establishing current-day daylight saving time.
Most recently, amid an energy crisis in 1973, former President Richard Nixon signed a bill putting the U.S. on daylight saving time starting in January 1974. While the American public at first liked the idea, soon "the experiment ... ran afoul of public opinion," The New York Times reported in October 1974. Sunrises that could be as late as 9:30 a.m. some places in parts of winter became increasingly unpopular. It didn't take long for Congress to reverse course in October 1974.
Today, the public seems ready for another change, fed up with disruptions to sleep and routines, which research has suggested can contribute to health issues and even safety problems. For now, prepare to reset your clocks, and your sleep schedules, once again this Sunday.
Contributing: Celina Tebor, Emily DeLetter USA TODAY; USA TODAY Network-Florida
veryGood! (698)
Related
- A New York Appellate Court Rejects a Broad Application of the State’s Green Amendment
- FX's 'Shogun' brings a new, epic version of James Clavell's novel to life: What to know
- 2 adults are charged with murder in the deadly shooting at Kansas City’s Super Bowl celebration
- Alexey Navalny's team confirms the death of Putin critic, says his mother is searching for his body
- NCAA hands former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh a 4-year show cause order for recruiting violations
- Hiker rescued from 90 mph winds, frigid cold temps at New Hampshire's Mount Washington
- Joe Alwyn Shares Rare Look into His Life Nearly One Year After Taylor Swift Breakup
- She disappeared leaving to catch the school bus. What to know about this missing Texas girl:
- Kansas City Chiefs CEO's Daughter Ava Hunt Hospitalized After Falling Down a Mountain
- Study warned slope failure likely ahead of West Virginia Target store's collapse
Ranking
- Big Lots store closures could exceed 300 nationwide, discount chain reveals in filing
- NBA MVP rankings: With Joel Embiid out of running there are multiple deserving candidates
- Joe Manganiello spent Valentine's Day with Caitlin O'Connor after Sofía Vergara divorce
- 'Extremely rare event:' Satellite images show lake formed in famously dry Death Valley
- RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law
- Rescuers battle to save a baby elephant trapped in a well
- John Travolta's Moving 70th Birthday Message From Daughter Ella Will Warm Your Heart
- Hilary Swank Reveals Stories Behind Names of Her Twins Aya and Ohm
Recommendation
Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
Many small business owners see 2024 as a ‘make or break’ year, survey shows
Indiana lawmakers vote to lift state ban on happy hours
2 children, 2 women face charges in beating death of 3-year-old toddler in Louisiana
Kourtney Kardashian Cradles 9-Month-Old Son Rocky in New Photo
Human leg found on subway tracks in New York City, owner unknown
D.C. United fan groups plan protest of the MLS club’s preseason trip to Saudi Arabia
U.S. casinos won $66.5B in 2023, their best year ever as gamblers showed no economic fear