Whereas 47 children were killed, and the many injured,
during a fire at the ABC Daycare Center in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, on June
5, 2009;
Whereas many children are still hospitalized and some are
in critical condition;
Whereas numerous firefighters and civilians bravely risked
their lives to save many of the children, some even breaking down walls to
reach those trapped inside the burning building;
Whereas Congress and the citizens of the United States
were greatly saddened by the tremendous loss and pain of the families of the
victims of the fire;
Whereas the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Sacramento,
California, assisted in the treatment of several severely burned
children;
Whereas Congress recognizes the need for proper building
fire codes as a necessity to avoid tragedies such as this, a lesson learned
during the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in 2003, and
in many other tragic fires; and
Whereas the publication of the original study and
comprehensive list of recommendations in America Burning
,
written in 1974, requested advances in fire prevention through the installation
of automatic sprinkler systems in existing buildings: Now, therefore, be
it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the
victims and their families of the fire at the ABC Daycare Center in Hermosillo,
Sonora, Mexico;
(2)expresses solidarity with the people of
Mexico during this tragic time;
(3)commends the brave
firefighters and civilians who risked their lives to rescue children from the
fire and the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Sacramento, California, for
providing assistance; and
(4)acknowledges the
importance of fire codes and fire sprinkler systems in avoiding tragedies such
as this.