As Americans prepared for a biannual exercise in “stupidity,” senators renewed their calls to do away with the practice for good.

For as long as Daylight Saving Time has existed there have been detractors of the policy that sees the clocks advanced one hour in March only to be returned to Standard Time in November. Amounting to little more than a rhythm disruptor and an hour less sleep for many, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey (D) and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) pushed to advance their stalled Sunshine Protection Act.

In a statement released by Markey Friday on the bipartisan bill that had been sponsored by Rubio and originally co-sponsored by 8 lawmakers including Markey, the Massachusetts senator declared, “Instead of springing forward and falling back every year, we should just make Daylight Savings Time permanent.”

“The antiquated biannual ritual of toggling between times isn’t just an inconvenience–it also has very real impacts on our economy, our energy consumption, and our health,” continued Markey before leaning into an “Annie” reference. “We know the sun will come out tomorrow, so let’s make that sun stay out an hour late by making Daylight Saving time permanent and passing the Sunshine Protection Act. You can bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun … and smiles.”

He wasn’t alone in making light of the legislation that had been introduced in 2022 and unanimously passed as Rubio shared his remarks from the Senate floor that year when he had asked to “pardon the pun, but this is an idea whose time has come.”

“But the good news is, if we can get this passed,” he said at the time, “we don’t have to keep doing this stupidity anymore.”

It’s time to stop changing our clocks. After Sunday, we should #LocktheClock once and for all. ️pic.twitter.com/cjpENFtQce

— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) March 9, 2024

The 2023 attempt of the Sunshine Protection Act included 11 cosponsors but hadn’t moved past being introduced.

Markey had twice succeeded in bipartisan legislation to extend the duration of Daylight Saving Time from beginning on the last Sunday of April and ending on the last Sunday of October to beginning on the second Sunday of March and ending the first Sunday of November.

In his own statement joining the Massachusetts legislator, Rubio said, “We’re ‘springing forward’ but should have never ‘fallen back.’ My Sunshine Protection Act would end this stupid practice of changing our clocks back and forth.”

Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R) also voiced his approval to “Lock The Clock,” making note of his tenure as Florida governor where his home state, like more than half of the states, had proposed bills to do away with the time changes since 2015.

“Floridians are sick of changing their clocks because we all want more sunshine. It’s time for Congress to act and I’m proud to be leading the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act with Senator Rubio to get this done. When I was Governor of Florida, I signed this bill into law on the state level. Now it’s Washington’s turn and we should finish the job by passing this good bill today,” said Scott.

Despite an overwhelming consensus to end the practice, there remained disagreement over whether Standard or Saving Time should remain the norm with safety being a leading consideration.

@SenMarcoRubio you’re pushing for the wrong option. DST makes mornings happen in darkness. That’s not ok. It’s unsafe and unnecessary. Stop the clocks on standard time. Don’t spring forward in the first place. pic.twitter.com/joxHwM5snG

— Diane Shackelford (@deeshack1) March 9, 2024

Here we are again. Doctors and chronobiology experts who have studied the negative health impacts of DST educated Capitol Hill lawmakers on the studies and evidence that show permanent Standard Time is the clock we need to keep. The House didn’t take up your bill for this reason.

— Jens Cristian (@JensCristian1) March 9, 2024

No, we should have #PermanentStandardTime. We tried permanent daylight savings in 1974 — and rescinded it pretty soon after! So let’s NOT make the same mistake again!

— Gillian Gaar (@GillianGaar) March 9, 2024

Yes, please!

— Cathy Arrington (@ArringtonCat) March 8, 2024

Yes, lock it on DST, not standard time!

— danielboone72 (@danielboone721) March 9, 2024

I don’t care which time we use….JUST PICK ONE and keep it yr round!!!

— Earl McCracken (@Gcracker3321) March 9, 2024

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Kevin Haggerty

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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