An effort to end the biannual changing of the clocks in the U.S. has once again stalled out in Congress.
Earlier this year, Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Vern Buchanan, both Republicans from Florida, reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, previously championed by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Scott’s bill received bipartisan support and a committee hearing, and even advanced out of committee. It would give the necessary federal approval to the states that have passed permanent daylight saving time legislation to begin locking their clocks, while giving other states the option to opt in or out of doing the same.
Scott and other lawmakers took to the Senate floor on Tuesday to try to advance the bill by unanimous consent, Reuters reports. This practice allows legislation to be expedited through the legislative process. Because all members of the chamber have to agree on the bill for it to be successful, it’s usually reserved for legislation expected to have unanimous support.
“This bill is about states’ rights,” Scott said in his remarks on the Senate floor. “It allows the people of each state to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families.”
There are states in which year-round daylight saving time could be more enjoyable than others, though health experts believe we should lock our clocks to another permanent time.
While Scott’s bill seemed to have a bright future in the Senate as well as President Donald Trump’s apparent support, it, like its predecessors, has stalled out.
Hellbound and Down 