U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott from the state of Florida, stated the nation has gone through so much in 2020 that no one should have to deal with changing the clocks this fall.
What We Know:
- Referring to the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott proposed legislation on Wednesday that, if passed, would skip the upcoming time change and keep the country on daylight saving time through November 2021.
- This proposed legislation on daylight savings time is not intended to be forever, only to stop the changing of the clock for one year. The legislators mentioned it would give one year of stability for the families dealing with enough already along with the virtual learning, working from home, and other interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is now part of our daily lives.
- In 2018, California approved a ballot measure that was intended to put the Golden State on daylight saving time permanently.
- Currently, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time on November 1, 2020, and starts again at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 14, 2021.
- Rubio’s office stated he would result in a rule that would go around the committee to try and get the Senate floor legislation quickly. Although, it’s not too clear how support for the bill is across both houses of Congress.
- The United States Department of Transportation, which supervises the country’s standardized time zones, states on its website that the daylight saving process saves energy, prevents traffic injuries, and reduces crime.
- In a news release, Rubio and Scott stated that suspending daylight savings time would achieve the same goals in addition to improving physical fitness, reducing childhood obesity, and benefitting the agricultural economy.
- This same issue has also been seen recently in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and several New England states.
Senator Rubio stated in a press release that this is a small step that may ease the load, and more daylight savings means more daylight for afterschool activities and helps with the hardships of the new school year challenges.
