[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 115 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 115

   Recognizing the historical significance of the Triangle Fire and 
  honoring its victims on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the 
                             tragic event.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2003

   Mr. Pascrell (for himself and Mr. King of New York) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                      Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the historical significance of the Triangle Fire and 
  honoring its victims on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the 
                             tragic event.

Whereas on March 25, 1911, a fire, commonly referred to as the Triangle Fire, 
        broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory, located on the top 
        floors of the Asch Building on the corner of Greene Street and 
        Washington Place in New York City;
Whereas the fire swept through the top 3 stories of the building in only \1/2\ 
        hour;
Whereas 146 of the 600 Triangle factory employees died in the tragic fire;
Whereas many of the Triangle factory workers were women, some as young as 15 
        years old;
Whereas most of the workers were recent European Jewish or Italian immigrants 
        who had come to the United States with their families to seek a better 
        life;
Whereas fire inspections and precautions at the time were woefully inadequate;
Whereas the Triangle factory had never conducted a fire drill and had locked 
        doors, poor sanitation, and crowding;
Whereas in the wake of this tragedy, people throughout the Nation demanded 
        restitution, justice, and action that would safeguard the vulnerable and 
        oppressed, and there were massive protests by people angry at the lack 
        of concern and the greed that had made the Triangle fire possible;
Whereas during the next 20 years, there was a substantial effort to alleviate 
        the most dangerous aspects of sweatshop manufacturing in New York and 
        throughout the Nation;
Whereas the labor movement and progressive organizations fought a long and 
        difficult battle to secure the right of workers to safe, decent working 
        conditions;
Whereas the last survivor of the factory blaze, Rose Freedman, passed away on 
        February 17, 2001, at the age of 107;
Whereas although the public outrage resulting from the Triangle Fire eventually 
        faded, the fire was not forgotten nor was it the only such event in the 
        history of American workers; and
Whereas the Triangle Fire brought attention to the many serious problems facing 
        factory workers and paved the way for worker protection laws: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress, on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary 
        of the fire that occurred at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company 
        factory, commonly referred to as the Triangle Fire--
                    (A) honors the victims of the Triangle Fire;
                    (B) recognizes the historical significance of the 
                Triangle Fire in the struggle for worker safety 
                standards and protections;
                    (C) commends all the government agencies, labor 
                unions, and industry groups that attempted to aid the 
                victims of the Triangle Fire and played instrumental 
                parts in facilitating lasting improvement in worker 
                safety standards and protections; and
                    (D) acknowledges that work site fires and other 
                hazards continue to be a problem; and
            (2) it is the sense of the Congress that the Federal 
        Government should take all appropriate measures to enforce 
        safety regulations prompted by the Triangle Fire.
                                 <all>