The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed legislation cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) to end the practice of adjusting time twice a year, making Daylight Saving Time permanently year-round.
The “Sunshine Protection Act,” sponsored by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), gained bipartisan approval from the upper chamber of Congress without dissent. Tuberville has long promoted the legislative effort to end what the senator refers to as the “outdated” practice of springing forward and falling back.
Following the bill’s passage, Tuberville took to the floor of the Senate to thank his colleagues for supporting his effort and spoke to what he saw as the need to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.
“I cannot overstate how grateful I am that this bill has passed this Chamber just a few minutes ago by Unanimous Consent,” proclaimed Tuberville. “It’s especially timely given that we all had to change our clocks this past weekend, and we are now experiencing longer, sunnier days. But it would be better news if longer, sunnier days were a new norm and not cause for a temporary, seasonal celebration. Which is why I hope my colleagues in the House of Representatives pass this bill quickly.”
He added, “Since I joined Senator Rubio in the effort to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, the phones in my office have absolutely been ringing off the hook in support of permanently adopting Daylight Saving Time.”
“Moms and dads who want some more daylight before putting the kids to bed, so dinner time doesn’t feel like bedtime,” continued Tuberville. “Elderly people who want more sun in the evenings in order to take a walk, enjoy work in their yards. Farmers who could use the extra daylight to work in the fields – for them, it’s a better business model and adds to the bottom line.”
Tuberville made mention of the bipartisan support the bill received in the Senate, which he noted to be of rare occurrence.
“But it’s not just people in the state of Alabama – Americans across the country want to make Daylight Saving Time permanent,” he asserted. “In fact, it is worth noting this bill has bipartisan support – evidence by the fact it passed with no objection here in the Senate mere moments ago. It is no secret how rare that is here in this Chamber.”
The freshman senator went on to declare that “it is simply commonsense to update this outdated practice.”
“That is why Alabama, along with 17 other state legislatures, have passed legislation or resolutions to flip the switch on this outdated practice and permanently increase our daylight hours. But these changes on the state level cannot take place until a federal law is passed. We’ve taken the first step today in the Senate by passing this bill. Now, it’s [onto] the House side,” concluded Tuberville.
The measure now heads to the lower chamber for consideration, where similar legislation has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks).
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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