Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on Newsmax Wednesday urged the Senate to quickly approve legislation allowing states to adopt permanent daylight saving time, arguing Americans are tired of changing their clocks twice a year and should be free to decide what works best.

During an appearance on "Wake Up America," Scott said he's optimistic the House-passed measure can finally clear the Senate after similar efforts have stalled in previous years.

"I hope so," he said when asked whether this could be the year Congress sends the legislation to the president's desk.

Scott, a longtime supporter of the Sunshine Protection Act, called the proposal one of the most popular bills in Congress and said it simply gives states the option to remain on daylight saving time year-round.

"You know, probably other than the SAVE America Act, this is probably the most important legislation — most popular legislation," he said.

The Florida Republican said he signed legislation as governor to keep the state on daylight saving time permanently but has been waiting for Congress to authorize states to make the change.

"I passed it as governor," said Scott. "I said, as soon as the federal government allows us to do it, we're going to stay on daylight saving time."

According to Scott, permanent daylight saving time would allow Americans to "get to enjoy our sunshine and quit changing the clocks."

The House recently approved legislation that would permit states to adopt permanent daylight saving time if Congress gives them that authority. The bill now heads to the Senate, where similar proposals have previously failed to advance.

"This gives every state their option to do this. That's all this does," Scott said. "It's a simple bill that we ought to pass."

He urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to bring the legislation up for a vote, predicting it would win bipartisan support.

"I hope Leader Thune will bring it to the floor," Scott said. "I believe it will pass."

The legislation preserves states' authority to make the final decision, he said, rather than imposing a national mandate.

"It passed overwhelmingly in the House, and it will give our states the opportunity to use the sunshine … in the benefit they want," Scott said. "Every state will have every opportunity to do whatever they want."

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