[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 328 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 328

   Designating the week beginning May 1, 1994, as ``Arson Awareness 
                                Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 1994

 Mr. Weldon (for himself, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Boehlert, and Mr. Valentine) 
 introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 
               Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the week beginning May 1, 1994, as ``Arson Awareness 
                                Week''.

Whereas fires annually cause nearly 6,000 deaths and $10,000,000,000 in property 
        damage in the United States;
Whereas the United States has higher fire property loss per capita than any 
        other industrialized country;
Whereas there are 100,000 known incendiary fires, 50,000 incendiary vehicle 
        fires, and 25,000 incendiary wildland fires annually in the United 
        States;
Whereas arson is responsible for approximately 25 percent of all fires in the 
        United States;
Whereas one of the leading causes of fire deaths in the United States is arson, 
        which accounts for over 700 deaths annually in the United States;
Whereas arson is the leading cause of property damage due to fire in the United 
        States, and is responsible for losses of $2,000,000,000, or 
        approximately 1 of every 4 dollars lost to fire, annually in the United 
        States;
Whereas, according to the National Fire Protection Association, only \1/3\ of 
        the suspicious and incendiary fires in the United States are confirmed 
        as arson;
Whereas 13 of the 22 fire storms in Southern California in October and November 
        of 1993 were caused by arson, and resulted in over 126,000 burned acres, 
        $320,000,000 in damage, and injury to 97 people; and
Whereas a week set aside for arson awareness would increase public knowledge 
        about the large impact of the crime: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning May 1, 
1994, is designated as ``Arson Awareness Week'', and the President is 
authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling on all public 
officials and the people of the United States to observe the week with 
appropriate programs and activities.

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