Marla Jones, Managing Ediitor

marla@southerntorch.com

By Marla Jones

Managing Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA-- At 2 a.m., this Sunday, clocks in the U.S. will “fall back” one hour as daylight savings time ends, beginning winter’s dark evenings. Many have debated this tradition.

In March the U.S. Senate passed legislation, unanimously that would make daylight saving time permanent starting in 2023, a move promoted by supporters advocating brighter afternoons and more economic activity. 

After years of attempts, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to permanently adopt daylight saving time, after the state Senate passed the same measure.  Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill into law on May 13, 2021.  However, states currently do not have the authority to change themselves. 

The Sunshine Protection Act was first introduced in 2018 by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).  The Act would eliminate the changing of clocks to standard time for four months.  If enacted, this will be the last time that we will “fall back” in November and will have a full year of daylight savings time, instead of only eight months.  This bill will not alter or change time zones. 

Sen. Rubio stated that studies have shown that making daylight saving time permanent would reduce crime, encourage kids to play outside, and lower the risk of heart attacks and car accidents.

Rubio stated that the delay until next year is to not affect broadcast and transportation schedules for the current year

The House of Representatives, which has held a committee hearing on the matter, must still pass the bill before it can go to President Joe Biden to sign.

The White House has not said whether President Biden supports it. A spokesperson for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declined to comment if she supports the act only stating she was reviewing it.