Lankford, Rubio reintroduce bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent

Lankford Continues Work to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

WASHINGTON, DC (March 2nd) - Ahead of Daylight Saving Time, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 for the 118th Congress. The legislation would end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year.

“Twice a year Oklahomans ask themselves—why do we still have to change our clocks? Last year, the Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, but the House never even voted on the bill. Every mom of young children hates this time of year when alarm clocks change, but baby’s clocks don’t. It is past time to get this bill to the President’s desk so we can take the stress, headaches, and annoying twice-a-year reset of the clocks out of our lives. It’s time to lock the clocks,” said Lankford.

“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,” said Rubio.

US Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“There are enormous health and economic benefits to making daylight saving time permanent. Florida lawmakers have already voted to make daylight saving time permanent in my home state and Congress should pass the Sunshine Protection Act to move Florida and the rest of the country to year-round daylight-saving time,” said Buchanan.

Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Wyden (R-OR) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) are original cosponsors of the legislation.


Background:

In March 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, sending it to the House for action. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi never brought the legislation up for a vote, despite broad support among lawmakers and the American people.