Growing push to keep Daylight Saving Time all year long

Reporter: Michelle Alvarez Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:
sunlight
sunlight Credit: WINK News

In just a few days, we’ll all be switching back to Daylight Saving time, meaning you’ll lose an hour of sleep. But once again, there’s a push to keep Daylight Saving Time permanently.

While it is just an hour, that hour has become very important to people in Florida and a growing number of people nationwide. They want us to spring forward and make Daylight Saving Time permanent.

Ginny Leifheit lives in Fort Myers and thought we’d be done with this. “We voted so we wouldn’t have to have this time change all the time. And we’ve always been wondering, what happened to it?” said Leifheit.

Florida voters in 2019 voted to make the change permanently. But, the state can’t just change time on its own. Congress has to approve.

Florida is one of 19 states that want Daylight Saving Time year-round. And another 22 states are set to debate the sunshine protection act this year.

Malia Leifheit is from Illinois and says the sun would help her health. “I have seasonal depression, so I would love for the sun to be out longer because that’s more sunlight I can get to make me feel better. I honestly do when it’s nice out,” said Malia.

Gail Taylor said that she wants things to stay the same all year. “We would just like it to be one for all. It’s very confusing going back and forth. It’s really hard for the grandkids and the kids going to school,” Taylor said.

Patti Dandrea came down from Vermont. “It affects your sleep. It affects your work habits. I just rather keep it on one timeframe. I don’t even care which one. Just keep it one,” Patti said.

But some, particularly sleep experts, don’t like the idea of year-round Daylight Saving Time.

Tim Dandrea says it is working for him so far. “I don’t know, seems to work for me,” said Dandrea. “I’m just one of those people that doesn’t like changes. I like to leave things the way they are, so I would be for leaving it.”

In 2022, we spring forward on Mar. 13, and we don’t fall back until Nov. 6.

The effort to make Daylight Saving Time permanent is bipartisan. Florida Republica Marco Rubio and Massachusetts  Democrat Ed Markey are co-sponsoring this bill in the U.S. Senate.

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