Time — and money — at stake in Florida-led proposal to extend daylight saving

(The Center Square) — Daylight saving time could be extended for one year if a fast-tracked federal bill sponsored by Florida’s two U.S. senators is adopted before Nov. 1, when clocks fall back an hour at 2 a.m. local time across much of the world.

Republican U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott filed a two-page bill this week to extend daylight saving time through Nov. 7, 2021, eliminating the requirement to push clocks back an hour in fall and forward an hour in spring for one year.

Rubio filed last year the Sunshine Protection Act of 2019, which would create permanent daylight saving time for all time zones nationwide. The bill awaits a hearing before the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Rubio and Scott said suspending daylight saving time would save energy, prevent traffic injuries and reduce crime while improving physical fitness, reducing childhood obesity and benefitting the agricultural economy.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce and state business associations maintain an extra hour of sunlight in the winter, during peak tourist season, would translate into more sales.

“Our government has asked a lot of the American people over the past seven months, and keeping the nation on Daylight Saving Time is just one small step we can take to help ease the burden,” Rubio said in a statement. “More daylight in the after school hours is critical to helping families and children endure this challenging school year.

read more at http://www.cali.fm/time-and-money-at-stake-in-florida-led-proposal-to-extend-daylight-saving/