[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 60 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S4289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL ARSON AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 
end of a significant week in our Nation. May 4 through May 10 was 
National Arson Awareness Week around the country. This year's theme was 
``Target Arson.'' The Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], along 
with local law enforcement officers, firefighters, and teachers chose a 
tremendously important and vulnerable group close to my heart for 
special emphasis in their crusade to promote safety and crime 
prevention--children. Their mission was and is to educate children on 
the dangers of fire by asking parents to control their children's 
access to matches and cigarette lights, and asking all adults to set a 
good example for our Nation's youth.
  Arson affects all Americans. It accounts for more than 700,000 deaths 
nationwide and causes more than $2 billion worth of property damage. 
The cost to the community as a whole is great when we consider that the 
taxpayer must foot the expenses for the fire, police, and medical 
personnel who are needed when a fire occurs, and not to mention the 
losses to a community when a church, business, or home is destroyed. 
That is why it is imperative that we work together to prevent arson 
from destroying another community, and most important, another life.
  Today I commend FEMA and communities across the country for their 
laudable efforts in raising awareness about the tragic consequences of 
arson and its devastating effect on our communities.

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