[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1701-H1704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPROVED FIRE SAFETY IN NONRESIDENTIAL 
                               BUILDINGS

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 85) expressing the 
sense of the Congress with regard to the need for improved fire safety 
in nonresidential buildings in the aftermath of the tragic fire on 
February 20, 2003, at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 85

       Whereas, on the night of February 20, 2003, a pyrotechnic 
     display ignited a massive fire at The Station nightclub in 
     West Warwick, Rhode Island;
       Whereas 99 people have died as a result of the fire and an 
     additional 186 people were injured in the fire, many of whom 
     remain hospitalized as of the date of the submission of this 
     resolution with life-threatening burns and other injuries;
       Whereas the victims of the fire were residents of Rhode 
     Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and several other States;
       Whereas the firefighters, police officers (particularly 
     officers of the West Warwick Police Department who were the 
     first to arrive on the scene), and medical personnel who 
     responded to the fire performed heroically under horrific 
     circumstances, and they risked their own lives to save many 
     of the injured;
       Whereas, at hospitals in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, 
     doctors, nurses, hospital staff, mental health professionals, 
     and other health care workers toiled through the night and in 
     the following days to care for the injured, and they continue 
     to provide world-class care to victims of the fire who remain 
     hospitalized;
       Whereas hospital care for victims of the fire was provided 
     at Rhode Island Hospital, Kent County Hospital, South County 
     Hospital, Fatima Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, 
     Miriam Hospital, Roger Williams Hospital, Landmark Hospital, 
     University of Massachusetts/Worcester Hospital, Brigham and 
     Women's Hospital, Westerly Hospital, Shriners Hospital, St. 
     Luke's Hospital, Memorial Hospital, Charlton Hospital, and 
     Newport Hospital;
       Whereas the local Red Cross, with 10 paid staff and over 
     400 dedicated volunteers, has played a critical role in 
     offering comfort to the families of victims and coordinating 
     services;
       Whereas State and local officials have responded to the 
     fire and its aftermath quickly, effectively, and 
     compassionately, and the people of Rhode Island and the 
     Nation are grateful for their efforts;

[[Page H1702]]

       Whereas Governor Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island and West 
     Warwick Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer have shown exceptional 
     leadership under trying circumstances and their sensitivity 
     to the families impacted by the tragedy is much appreciated; 
     Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty and Maj. Gen. Reginald 
     Centracchio, as Co-Chairs of the Emergency Management 
     Advisory Council, have also played a crucial role in 
     responding to the tragedy; and the Rhode Island Emergency 
     Management Agency has impressively and effectively 
     coordinated a myriad of State and local activities;
       Whereas area funeral directors and medical examiners have 
     provided outstanding service throughout the tragedy;
       Whereas the staff of the local family resource center has 
     helped the families of victims to access the services and 
     information they need and provided care and comfort to 
     hundreds of grieving family members;
       Whereas the people of Rhode Island and concerned citizens 
     across the United States have shown incredible generosity in 
     response to the tragedy, contributing hundreds of thousands 
     of dollars to victims' assistance efforts;
       Whereas many local businesses have provided victims and 
     their families with crucial services from food to 
     transportation, members of the Rhode Island Bar Association 
     and Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association have offered free 
     assistance to victims and their families with immediate legal 
     issues, and community mental health centers and mental health 
     professionals have provided critical mental health care to 
     victims and their families and other members of the 
     community;
       Whereas Federal agencies, including the Social Security 
     Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
     Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Department of 
     Health and Human Services, the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology, and the Small Business 
     Administration, have offered assistance and expertise that 
     has been extremely helpful to the State's emergency response 
     to the tragedy;
       Whereas the West Warwick fire is only the most recent 
     example of how deadly fire can be in nonresidential 
     buildings;
       Whereas, in 2001, the last year in which full statistics 
     are available, 80 people were killed and 1,650 injured in 
     fires in nonresidential buildings, not including the victims 
     of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and
       Whereas, on February 17, 2003, 21 people were killed in a 
     tragic stampede at the E2 Nightclub in Chicago, Illinois, and 
     this tragedy and the West Warwick fire, which have deeply 
     impacted persons throughout the United States, emphasize the 
     critical need for enhancements in nightclub and concert hall 
     safety: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) expresses its deepest condolences to the family members 
     and friends who lost loved ones as a result of the tragic 
     fire on February 20, 2003, at The Station nightclub in West 
     Warwick, Rhode Island, and offers its hope for the quick and 
     full recovery of those persons who were injured in the fire;
       (2) expresses immense gratitude for the efforts of 
     countless emergency response personnel, local, State, and 
     Federal officials, health care providers, volunteers, 
     businesses, and citizens who have been part of the response 
     to this tragedy; and
       (3) urges State and local officials and the owners of 
     entertainment facilities to examine their safety practices, 
     fire codes, and enforcement capabilities in light of this 
     horrific tragedy and to take all necessary action to ensure 
     that such a tragedy never befalls any community again.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Turner) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 85, introduced by the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), expresses the sense of the House with 
regard to the need for improved fire safety in nonresidential buildings 
in the aftermath of the tragic fire that struck on February 20, 2003, 
at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
  Madam Speaker, last month a great tragedy befell this Nation. Ninety-
eight people were killed and nearly 200 more were injured when a 
devastating fire engulfed The Station nightclub that was hosting a 
concert in the suburban Providence, Rhode Island, town of West Warwick.
  Stage props that sprayed pyrotechnics set on fire the acoustic wall 
behind the stage, and the fire spread across the nightclub ceiling at a 
terribly rapid speed. Apparently, the entire club was fully aflame in 
just 3 minutes. Many of the victims never had a chance to escape.
  This unimaginable catastrophe was one of the deadliest nightclub 
fires in our Nation's history; and sadly, this incident seems so 
avoidable. I sincerely hope this event serves a final wake-up call to 
owners and operators of entertainment venues across the country. I 
trust all those in responsible positions will take an even closer look 
at safety features in their facilities, in order that this tragedy may 
not be repeated.
  I would like to express my sympathy to the grieving families and 
friends of the victims. I congratulate the local, State and Federal 
emergency responders that worked tirelessly to save victims from the 
fire and continue to treat patients that suffer from burns and other 
injuries. I hope and pray that those who remain injured will experience 
a full and very quick recovery.
  Madam Speaker, I hope that the passage of this resolution will lead 
us to take steps toward improving the safety of nonresidential 
buildings. Therefore, I urge all Members to support the adoption of 
House Concurrent Resolution 85.
  I thank my colleague from Rhode Island for introducing this important 
measure.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the resolution regarding the 
needs for improved fire safety in nonresidential buildings. This is a 
major concern with regards to the tragic fire at a nightclub in West 
Warwick, Rhode Island, on February 20, 2003, which killed over 90 
people and injured about 200. It is almost unthinkable and unimaginable 
that such a tragedy could and would occur.
  I also want to recognize a similar tragedy that took place in my 
congressional district in Chicago on February 17, 2003, at the E2 
nightclub in Chicago's south side, where a stampede led to 
approximately 21 people being killed and more than 50 injured. This was 
a tragedy that could and should have been prevented if there were 
better fire and building safety codes implemented like wider 
staircases, more visible exits, and windows for air circulation.
  In recognizing the tragedy in Rhode Island, I would like to take this 
opportunity also to extend my condolences to the families of the fire 
victims in Warwick and to the victims of the E2 nightclub in Chicago.
  Madam Speaker, as lawmakers, we are responsible for ensuring the 
safety of our citizens, especially in public places. As a result, we 
should immediately pass this bill before there is any other tragedy, 
and I would want to urge all of those who have responsibility for 
safety in public places to do everything possible to assure that those 
buildings are, in fact, safe; that there is adequate opportunity for 
people to exit; and that we protect the lives of our citizens.
  I commend the gentleman from Rhode Island for introducing this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I 
want to thank the gentleman from Rhode Island for introducing this 
important resolution, and I urge adoption of this measure.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), who is the author of this 
resolution.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time, and I appreciate his comments; and my condolences 
go to the families that lost loved ones in the Chicago tragedy as well. 
We share his pain in these two tragic events.
  Madam Speaker, on the night of February 20, Rhode Island suffered a 
devastating tragedy. On that night, a massive fire, ignited by a 
pyrotechnic display during a rock concert, tore through The Station 
nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in my congressional district. 
That fire took 99 lives and left nearly 200 injured.

[[Page H1703]]

  In any community, this tragedy would have been overwhelming, but in a 
small State like Rhode Island, when a closeknit town falls victim to 
one of the worst nightclub fires in the Nation's history, the impact is 
simply incomprehensible. Everyone in Rhode Island has a connection to 
one of the victims; and indeed, connections have been made all across 
New England and, indeed, the Nation.
  I have introduced the resolution before us today to memorialize this 
horrible event and honor the victims and to express thanks for heroic 
efforts of so many emergency personnel, medical workers, community 
members, and government officials who have helped us through this 
tragedy.
  Just as importantly, I was compelled to draw the attention of my 
colleagues to this fire in order to reinforce the urgent need for 
increased attention to fire safety nationwide. Federal, State and local 
officials, along with proprietors of nightclubs and other commercial 
facilities, must reevaluate safety regulations and their enforcement to 
ensure that this kind of tragedy never happens again.
  If the West Warwick fire can serve as a wake-up call and lead to 
improved safety across the country, then these 99 lives will not have 
been lost in vain. It is the very least we can do to honor the victims.
  As Rhode Islanders continue the healing process, I want to express my 
deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones in this horrible fire. 
There are no words to adequately express our profound sadness. Please 
know that they are in the thoughts and prayers of us all, and we will 
not let the lives of their husbands, wives, sisters and brothers, 
children, parents and friends be forgotten.
  As of this afternoon, at least 40 people remain hospitalized, nearly 
half of them still in critical condition. I know my colleagues join me 
in offering up prayers for their quick and full recovery. They are 
fighting every hour, and they need our strength now more than ever. Our 
best wishes go out to them and their families as they weather the tough 
days ahead.
  I would also like to express my immense gratitude for the heroic 
efforts of people and agencies from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, and elsewhere who have helped respond to this disaster. 
The firefighters, police, emergency responders who were first on the 
scene made a herculean effort under unimaginable circumstances; and we 
have them to thank that even more lives were not lost.
  In addition, over a dozen hospitals in Rhode Island and Massachusetts 
have been caring for patients since this tragedy. The doctors, nurses, 
mental health professionals, and support staff of these hospitals have 
worked tirelessly to help the injured; and we are grateful for their 
service.
  As usual, when tragedy strikes Rhode Island, our community has proven 
strong, resilient and boundlessly generous. I want to recognize the 
countless volunteers who have put their lives on hold to help in any 
way they can. Likewise, many of our State's business community have 
come forward to provide food, shelter, transportation and much more to 
those affected by this event.
  I would particularly like to thank the Red Cross and its scores of 
volunteers for all they have done to give comfort and assistance to 
those whose loved ones were lost or injured.

                              {time}  1445

  Rhode Island's Governor, Don Carcieri, has provided outstanding 
leadership throughout this ordeal and shown extraordinary sensitivity 
to the families involved, and I have personally heard from many of them 
how much they appreciate his efforts. West Warwick's town manager, 
Wolfgang Bauer, has worked hand in hand with State officials to help 
the people of his community through this event. Lieutenant Governor 
Charles Fogarty and Major General Reginald Centracchio, cochairs of the 
Emergency Management Advisory Council, have also played a crucial role 
in this crisis; and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency has 
impressively and effectively coordinated a myriad of State and local 
activities.
  I would also like to thank my friend, the gentleman from Rhode Island 
(Mr. Kennedy), who is an original cosponsor of this resolution, for his 
assistance, his friendship and support through this difficult time, 
and, of course, Rhode Island's senior Senator, Jack Reed, and Senator 
Lincoln Chafee for their tremendous efforts and leadership. And I want 
to express my great appreciation to several Federal agencies, including 
FEMA, the Social Security Administration, SBA, HHS and ATF, for all of 
their support. Their involvement has been critical, and I look forward 
to working with them further in the weeks to come.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, let me address the issues of safety in our 
clubs, concert halls and other public places. As Americans have been 
reminded so painfully by the West Warwick fire, as well as the tragic 
nightclub stampede in Chicago just a few days earlier, we cannot relax 
our efforts to ensure that our fire and safety regulations are strong 
and effective and our entertainment facilities are in full compliance 
with them. As we now know all too well, to lose sight of the overall 
importance of safety can be fatal.
  I have been greatly encouraged by the intense efforts going on across 
the country in recent weeks to revisit fire safety regulations and step 
up enforcement of existing laws. Our State and local officials are 
taking this issue seriously, and I am hopeful that the result will be 
improved safety in every city and town in America. I know that my 
colleagues are ready to offer whatever Federal assistance might be 
needed to support these efforts and ensure that the horrific events in 
Chicago and West Warwick are the last of their kind.
  In closing, I urge support of House Concurrent Resolution 85.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much 
time remains.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The gentleman from Illinois 
has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Madam Speaker, I, too, want to join my 
colleague, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), in offering 
our heartfelt condolences to the families of the E2 Nightclub in 
Chicago for their tremendous loss. It is utterly ironic that the 
footage captured in Rhode Island of The Station nightclub on that 
terrible night was footage that was captured because a cameraman was 
following up on the local angle of club safety in light of what 
happened in Chicago. Those terrible images that we saw beamed across 
the country would not have been caught had it not been for our State 
trying to prevent what had happened in Chicago. How tragic it was that 
that is just what ended up happening.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great regret that I stand on the floor of 
the House today to offer my sincerest condolences and heartfelt prayers 
to those who lost loved ones, to those who were lost, and those still 
recovering from the effects of the tragic fire in my State of Rhode 
Island. I know that there is nothing that we can say, no resolution 
that we can pass that will take away the consuming grief and the sense 
of loss that so many Rhode Islanders have felt and are feeling; but it 
is my hope that these condolences of the House, along with time, will 
help to heal those wounds.
  I would like to say to my colleagues who have been watching the 
coverage of these sad events over the past days that you have no doubt 
heard several Rhode Islanders say that ``everyone in Rhode Island is 
separated by one and a half degrees,'' a play off of the well-known 
``six degrees of separation'' adage. Rhode Island is a small, but 
proud, State. There are fewer of us in Rhode Island than in Los 
Angeles, Dallas, Fort Worth, or Philadelphia. In Rhode Island, everyone 
knows everyone. Ask any Rhode Islander, and they will tell you their 
State is not so much a State as a community, a community where people 
are born, raised, educated, and eventually raise their own families in 
this place that will always welcome them home.
  To my colleagues, and especially to my colleague, the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), who I thank for bringing this resolution 
to the floor today, I say that the atmosphere under which we are at 
this time

[[Page H1704]]

and place, where generations of American representatives have marked 
tragedies and triumphs in the halls of this Republic, today we mourn 
the worst of those disasters ever to afflict the people of Rhode 
Island. To date, we have lost 99 of our families, friends, and 
neighbors to this terrible tragedy. That is nearly half as many Rhode 
Islanders as were lost in the entire Vietnam War in our State of Rhode 
Island.
  A disaster of this magnitude in a community like Rhode Island has 
tested the limits of our collective comprehension, resilience, and 
grief. While we mourn, we still hold out the hope, and offer our 
prayers, to the 190 men and women still fighting their injuries across 
New England, as many as 40 in the hospital. Their struggles will be 
difficult, the road ahead challenging; but the people of Rhode Island 
have proven that community togetherness and family can see us through 
anything. We offer them our support and encouragement today, and we 
promise that we will still be there in the months and the years ahead 
to ensure that we never forget that they are going to be living with 
these injuries for the rest of their lives.
  Madam Speaker, but for the brave first responders who came 
immediately and professionally to their call to duty, many of those in 
the hospitals today would no longer be with us, and most assuredly the 
number of those still recovering from their injuries would be much, 
much higher. The emergency personnel on duty who rushed to the scene, 
to those who simply passed or heard through the grapevine about the 
tragedy and selflessly responded, the men and women of this House today 
say ``thank you'' to all of them. They worked without thought for 
themselves that freezing night, and afterwards, not only to free the 
trapped from the inferno, and tended through their own tears to the 
cries of the wounded, but long past the tragedy to tend to the 
emotional and psychological wounds that continue to inflict these 
victims.
  Madam Speaker, what we ask of first responders in these situations is 
to be superhuman in the face of staggering human suffering. Most of us 
spend our lives doing our best to keep ourselves and our loved ones out 
of situations that the police, fire, and medical personnel rush into 
every single day, day after day. Their heroism in this tragedy does not 
go unnoticed. It might be added that with so much evil emanating from 
the events of 9-11, it is fitting to acknowledge that our State would 
not have been able to react as quickly as it had were it not for the 
lessons learned in that tragedy.
  Also, the leadership shown at so many levels of government is 
inspiring to those of us who believe that there are indeed good and 
honorable people in government service. I want to join my colleague, 
the gentleman from Rhode Island, in recognizing all those who he 
recognized in his remarks; but I too want to pay particular attention 
to our new Governor, Governor Carcieri, who has shown tremendous 
leadership under pressure. The compassion and personal touch that he 
has brought to our State has truly been inspirational. More than any 
other person, the Governor has held our State together through this 
tragedy.
  So while we continue to mourn for those who have walked on from this 
world and offer our prayers to those still fighting to return to good 
health, let us help to lessen their grief by showing our gratitude to 
all those who have helped them through this adversity.
  There will be, unfortunately, no shortage of time to grieve for the 
mother that will not be able to open the presents with her children at 
the holidays. There is no shortage of time to grieve for the brother 
who will not walk down the aisle with his new bride. There is no 
shortage of time to grieve for the spouse who will not celebrate her 
next anniversary with her husband, the grandfather who will not see his 
grandchildren graduate from college, or the child who will take his 
first steps without his parents to see him. Many Rhode Islanders will 
have the rest of their lives for these somber memories. Now is a time 
for remembrance of how the human spirit, above all, arises in times of 
tragedy, because that is the only thing, besides the passage of time, 
that will help ease our current pain.
  Unlike other no-less-painful losses we experience in the course of 
our lives, too many young lives were lost this horrific night. This 
incident has reminded me of the words that my father spoke at my 
cousin, John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s, memorial service. He said: ``He was 
lost on that troubled night, but we will always wake for him, so that 
his time, which was not doubled, but cut in half, will live forever in 
our memory, and in our beguiled and broken hearts.''
  Madam Speaker, our hearts are broken; and those who are lost will no 
doubt live forever in our memory.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Rhode Island once again for all 
the work that he has done representing his district through these 
difficult times. I know that the people who have entrusted their faith 
to him have been well served, and I appreciate this opportunity to rise 
in support of his resolution and strongly urge my colleagues to give it 
the support that it deserves.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume to commend both the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Langevin) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) for 
bringing this great tragedy to our attention.
  I also want to join with them in commending all of those who rose to 
the occasion, the policemen; the firemen; the Red Cross; emergency 
medical services personnel; mental health centers, crisis counselors; 
and even undertakers in my town, like Leak and Sons Funeral Home, who 
buried seven people without cost and greatly reduced the cost for an 
eighth person; radio stations; Salem Baptist Church, New Mount Pilgrim 
Baptist Church; the Push Rainbow; WGCI Radio; and all of those who have 
contributed in setting up educational funds for the children of those 
whose parents lost their lives in the E2 tragedy.
  Our country has a tendency to rise up when there is a special need, 
and I commend all of those who took note of the tragedy in Rhode 
Island, as well as the tragedy at the E2 in Chicago.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 85.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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