Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has voiced his support for ending the biannual tradition of adjusting clocks by proposing the Sunshine Protection Act. In an op-ed published in USA Today on Friday, Rubio cites the American public’s overwhelming preference for ceasing these spring and autumn time changes. The Florida Senator also pointed out that the U.S. Senate had shown unanimous support in spring 2022 towards ending this “pointless tradition” amid an era marked by partisan division and gridlock.
Rubio views the practice of twice-yearly clock changes as antiquated and detrimental to public health and calls for the permanence of Daylight Saving Time. He emphasized the nations’ unity in opposing the time change, stating, “This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support.”
Rubio noted that Arizona and Hawaii currently do not observe Daylight Saving Time and proposed that his act would establish Daylight Saving Time as the standard across the United States. He clarified that the act would not mandate this change on states, allowing them the option to opt-out freely without requiring Congressional approval. Rubio concluded his op-ed with optimism that both legislative bodies would pass the Sunshine Protection Act this year, as it introduces “a bit more common sense” into the country.
