[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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