WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year.
"More time for sunshine. Less time changing your clocks. The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act is a no-brainer. Let’s get it passed this Congress,” said Heinrich.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was enacted in the United States following Germany’s 1916 effort to conserve fuel during World War I, and its period of observance has since been lengthened. Originally mandated for six months, in 2005, Congress extended DST to begin the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. As a result, the United States now enjoys eight months of DST, and only four months of standard time (November-March). The United States has also gone through periods of year - round DST, including 1942-1945 and 1974-1975.
The Sunshine Protection Act would eliminate the changing of clocks to standard time for those four months. In sum, if enacted, we would not “fall back” in November and would enjoy a full year of DST, instead of only eight months.
This bill does not:
The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.). In addition to Heinrich, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).
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