On Wednesday, Florida Senator Rick Scott introduced the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, to officially “lock the clock” and end the twice-yearly time change and make Daylight Saving Time the national year-round standard.
In 2018, while serving as Governor of Florida, Senator Scott signed legislation that, pending federal approval, would exempt Florida from the practice of changing clocks twice a year, allowing the state to remain on Daylight Saving Time year-round. Senator Scott was joined in this effort by Senators Patty Murray, Tommy Tuberville, Rand Paul, Ron Wyden, Bill Hagerty, Cynthia Lummis, Ed Markey, Sheldon Whitehouse, James Lankford, Martin Heinrich, Alex Padilla, Brian Schatz, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Tina Smith, and Katie Britt. The Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act during the 117th Congress.
“I hear from Americans constantly that they are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year – it’s an unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them,” Scott said. “In 2018, as Governor of Florida, I signed legislation that would allow the state to opt out of the practice of changing the time and I’ve been a leading effort in getting this done on the federal level. I’m excited to have President Trump back in the White House and fully on board to LOCK THE CLOCK so we can get this good bill passed and make this common-sense change that will simplify and benefit the lives of American families.”
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, a Republican known as one of the most outspoken conservatives in Congress, called the annual process of changing clocks an “antiquated practice.”
“The Sunshine Protection Act will allow states the freedom to decide if they want to permanently follow Daylight Saving Time or not,” Paul said. ” I’m proud to support legislation to end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year.”
