3/24/22 kiplinger ...DP Americans may soon no longer need to spring forward
or fall back. Congress is inching closer to making daylight saving time
permanent, thanks to the efforts of lawmakers like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
Legislation sponsored by Rubio passed the Senate with unanimous consent. The
bill would make daylight saving time year-round, starting in Nov. of next year.
Proponents of the move say it would have numerous benefits, including enhanced
productivity, reduced energy usage and more sunshine later in the day, boosting
outdoor activity and alleviating seasonal depression. But the proposal’s many
critics mean passage is not guaranteed. One concern is that workers and
students would be forced to travel to their jobs and to school in the dark
during the winter…not an ideal scenario for many. Note that permanent daylight
saving time has been tried before, in the 1970s, but was so unpopular, the
experiment lasted less than two years. Nevertheless, the idea has endured. Many
states have passed laws or resolutions on the issue, though making the switch
would require approval from Congress.
