[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 723 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 723

      Designating September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety Month''.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2020

   Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Carper) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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                               RESOLUTION


 
      Designating September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety Month''.

Whereas campus-related housing fires at colleges in Texas, Oregon, Illinois, 
        Pennsylvania, other States, and Washington, D.C. have tragically cut the 
        lives of several young individuals short;
Whereas, since January 2000, at least 175 individuals, including students, 
        parents, and children, have died in campus-related fires;
Whereas approximately 87 percent of those campus-related fire deaths occurred in 
        off-campus housing;
Whereas a majority of college students in the United States live in off-campus 
        housing;
Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings in which the 
        occupants had compromised or deactivated fire safety systems;
Whereas automatic fire alarm systems and smoke alarms provide early warning of a 
        fire that is necessary for occupants of a building and the fire 
        department to take appropriate action;
Whereas an automatic fire sprinkler system is a highly effective method of 
        controlling or extinguishing a fire in its early stages, protecting the 
        lives of building occupants;
Whereas many college students live in off-campus housing, a fraternity or 
        sorority house, or a residence hall that is not adequately protected by 
        an automatic fire sprinkler system, an automatic fire alarm system, or 
        an adequate smoke alarm;
Whereas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, college students are taking more courses 
        online and spending more time indoors, thus increasing the need for fire 
        safety and prevention education;
Whereas fire safety education is an effective method of reducing the occurrence 
        of fires and the resulting loss of life and property damage;
Whereas college students do not routinely receive effective fire safety 
        education while in college;
Whereas educating young individuals in the United States about the importance of 
        fire safety is vital to help ensure that young individuals engage in 
        fire-safe behavior during college and after college; and
Whereas developing a generation of adults who practice fire safety may 
        significantly reduce future loss of life: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety 
        Month''; and
            (2) encourages administrators of institutions of higher 
        education and municipalities across the United States--
                    (A) to provide educational programs about fire 
                safety to all students of institutions of higher 
                education in September and throughout the school year;
                    (B) to evaluate the level of fire safety provided 
                in both on-campus and off-campus student housing; and
                    (C) to ensure fire-safe living environments 
                through--
                            (i) fire safety education;
                            (ii) the installation of fire suppression 
                        and detection systems and smoke alarms; and
                            (iii) the development and enforcement of 
                        applicable codes relating to fire safety.
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