[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ARSON AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to remind the Senate 
and the American Public that this is Arson Awareness Week. It is that 
time once a year that we stop to assess how arson affects our lives. 
Each year hundreds of Americans die because of the arsonist's match. 
Mr. President, I am outraged at this and the countless firefighters who 
are killed every year attempting to extinguish intentionally set fires. 
Arsonists should be swiftly brought to justice, especially when 
firefighters lives are put on the line.
  When a fire is intentionally set in the center of a retail city 
district the damaged property becomes blight on the entire community. 
Like cancer, arson degrades the whole area. Jobs are lost, tax bases 
are depleted and, most importantly, people are often killed.
  As a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I have long 
been associated with the war against arson. I have consistently 
supported stricter penalties for convicted arsonists. I have supported 
the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms that assist 
our fine state and local fire investigators. I have also supported the 
United States Fire Administration which provides valuable research 
grants and public education efforts geared toward controlling arson.
  Mr. President I remind all Americans that arson is still a serious 
problem, one we must continually work together to solve.

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