A bill locking-in Daylight Saving Time as the nation's permanent time is closer to becoming law. The U.S. Senate approved it unanimously in a voice vote, sending the measure to the House. The bill partially sponsored by Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse would end the twice-yearly changes we make to our clocks.
“Resetting the clocks may soon be a thing of the past,” said Whitehouse. “This is a bipartisan bill that has received a very strong response from constituents. I’m hopeful we can get the House of Representatives on board with an extra hour of afternoon sun in the winter and send this bill to the President’s desk.”
The Senator says it is often times depressing to many people in Rhode Island when the first week of November comes about and an hour of daylight just disappears.
Meantime, the co-author of the bill, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also applauded passage.
“No more switching clocks, more daylight hours to spend outside after school and after work, and more smiles -- that is what we get with permanent Daylight Saving Time,” said Senator Markey. “U.S. Senate passage of the Sunshine Protection Act means brighter days ahead for Americans, all year round. We can’t always get agreement in Congress these days, but today, the bipartisan sunshine coalition shone through. Now, I call on my colleagues in the House of Representatives to lighten up and swiftly pass the Sunshine Protection Act.”
The House has not scheduled either hearings or votes on the issue yet.
(Photo credit TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images