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What is the Sunshine Protection Act? Internet shocked at how DC lawmakers spend their time

"You'll see it's an eclectic collection of members of the United States Senate in favor of what we've just done here in the Senate,” Marco Rubio said

The US Senate on Tuesday, March 15, passed a bill – The Sunshine Protection Act – to make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the nation. It has been reported that lawmakers approved the measure unanimously by voice vote. If the bill gets signed into law, it would mean the end of changing the clocks twice a year and more economic activity.

There is no comment yet from the White House on the matter. A spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also did not say anything but claimed that she was looking into the bill closely. Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a sponsor of the legislation, said that even if the legislation, which has received support from several Republican and Democratic cosponsors, is signed into law in the coming days, it won’t be immediately put into effect. The change would reportedly possibly come into effect from November 2023 after consulting airlines and broadcasters.

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Rubio said: “You'll see it's an eclectic collection of members of the United States Senate in favor of what we've just done here in the Senate, and that's to pass a bill to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. Just this past weekend, we all went through that biannual ritual of changing the clock back and forth and the disruption that comes with it. And one has to ask themselves after a while why do we keep doing it? If we can get this passed, we don't have to keep doing this stupidity anymore.”

Senator Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, also supported the bill and added: “I just think the extra hour at the end of the day consistently is better than having it dark when kids go to school and dark when kids get home.” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the lead Democratic sponsor, stated before passing the legislation that the new initiative “would give us a chance for Americans all across the country to be rid of fall back and make Daylights Savings Time permanent and to add a little sunlight into most people's lives.”

However, people on the internet did not seem happy with the Senate's decision as a user tweeted, “This is the one time that I don’t agree They tried this in the 70’s and if want your children standing in the dark waiting for a school bus then do it The sun won’t come up until after 8 a.m.  Believe me it sucks.” Another user wrote, “As a school bus driver I do not support this. If we are going to not change time please make it standard time, not daylight savings time. Kids will be standing in the dark for much longer by choosing daylight savings. This is a BIG RISK for students.”

One person noted, “As a physician in the Pacific Northwest that sees many patients with seasonal depression, this is a terrible idea. it will be very dark in the mornings in winter (9 am sunrises in December). Year-round standard time makes much more sense from a brain science perspective.” The second one asked, “Aren't there more pressing human needs at hand than this? What a first world inconvenience to have to change analog clocks twice a year that it motivates legislation. This is an absolute embarrassment.” “WHY DIDN'T THEY PASS VOTING RIGHTS INSTEAD??” the third one added.