Daylight saving time, which ends on Nov. 3 this year, should become permanent, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) said in support of his Sunshine Protection Act of 2019.
“We need to end this antiquated practice,” Rep. Buchanan said on Oct. 30. “There are enormous health and economic benefits to making daylight saving time permanent.”
Rep. Buchanan in March introduced the bipartisan, bicameral H.R. 1556 with cosponsors including U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC) and Alcee Hastings (D-FL) to make daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time while allowing states with areas exempt from daylight savings time to choose the standard time for those areas, according to the bill’s text.
The identical bill, S. 670, also was introduced in March by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
According to information provided by Rep. Buchanan’s office, some of the benefits associated with making daylight saving time permanent include reductions in energy usage; automobile crashes and accidents involving pedestrians; risks for cardiac issues, strokes and seasonal depression; robberies; and childhood obesity, among others.
“Last year, Florida lawmakers voted to make daylight saving time permanent in my home state,” said Rep. Buchanan. “Congress should pass my bill to move Florida and the rest of the country to year-round daylight saving time.”