[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 28 (Monday, February 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E331]]
             INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION ACT

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 13, 1995
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Fire Services caucus, I am 
proud to introduce the Fire Safety Education Act.
  Every 113 minutes, this Nation incurs a civilian fire death. Every 17 
minutes, this Nation incurs a civilian fire death. Every 17 minutes, 
this Nation incurs a civilian fire injury. On average each year, we 
lose about 6,000 lives, experience 29,000 civilian injuries and incur 
several billion dollars in property losses. These are bone-chilling 
statistics which should concern all of us. I believe, in many 
instances, these fire-related losses probably could have been avoided 
had the individuals affected received proper fire safety education. All 
too often, we all read stories in the paper about innocent children 
burning to death in a home without a smoke alarm or about the senseless 
death of fires started by children playing with matches or adults not 
adequately putting out cigarettes. I have introduced the Fire Safety 
Education Act to help avoid these types of occurrences in the future.
  This legislation will create a grant program through the U.S. Fire 
Administration for State and local fire prevention efforts. Half of the 
grant money in the bill is designated for established fire prevention 
programs which have demonstrated success. The bill will encourage 
communities to continue their fire prevention programs by offering 
Federal assistance if they do so.
  In addition to encouraging fire prevention grants, the Fire Safety 
Education Act also seeks to improve our country's collection and 
analysis of fire data. The bill also sets recording requirements so 
that we can be sure Federal and local resources are being used 
efficiently.
  It is extremely important that we provide resources to help combat 
our Nation's fire problem. This bill serves as a preventive measure 
which will move us a step closer to achieving our goal of preventing 
senseless loss of life and property.


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