Buchanan’s Sunshine Protection Act Slated for E&C Committee Markup Tomorrow
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan released the following statement after his Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139), a bill to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent year-round, was included within the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act (H.R. 7389):
“I’m proud that my Sunshine Protection Act will be included in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act when it is considered tomorrow, bringing us one step closer to ending the outdated and unpopular practice of changing our clocks twice a year. Floridians and Americans across the country are tired of the biannual time change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity. Ending the clock change is a commonsense reform that will improve everyday life for millions of Americans. I want to thank Chairman Guthrie and Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis for advancing my longstanding legislative priority as part of this bipartisan investment in America’s future.”
The Sunshine Protection Act was included as a provision within an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (AINS) to the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act, which will be marked up and sent to the House floor tomorrow by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. In Florida, the state legislature overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation in 2018 to become the first state in the nation to adopt permanent DST. Across the U.S., 19 states have since enacted legislation or passed similar resolutions. The legislation has 32 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, and Senate companion legislation (S. 29) introduced by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has 18 bipartisan cosponsors.
Buchanan has introduced the Sunshine Protection Act each Congress since 2018.
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