[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 102 (Friday, July 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE FIRE SAFETY ACT

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                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2003

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the work of the 
Rhode Island General Assembly for passage of the Comprehensive Fire 
Safety Act and to urge other States to update their fire codes to 
modern standards. The Comprehensive Fire Safety Act, which was signed 
into law by Gov. Donald Carcieri on July 7, 2003, updates the Rhode 
Island Fire Code to reduce the chance of future fire-related tragedies. 
The legislation is the result of months of work by a 17-member 
legislation commission, and it passed the State House and Senate 
unanimously last month.
  This sweeping legislation is a timely, well thought out response to 
the West Warwick, RI, nightclub disaster that tragically killed 100 
concertgoers on February 20, 2003. This was the deadliest fire in Rhode 
Island history and resulted from the use of pyrotechnics in a building 
that was not equipped with sprinklers or easily accessible exits.
  The Comprehensive Fire Safety Act adopts the National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA) fire codes for new and existing buildings. This will 
end the State's grandfather clause that exempted older structures from 
meeting the State fire code. In addition, sprinklers will be required 
in more public buildings, a critical provision considering that the 
NFPA has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a 
completely sprinklered public building. In addition, the law bans most 
indoor pyrotechnics and expands the power of fire inspectors.
  I hope other States will act to update their fire codes before 
similar tragedies strike. Enough lives have been lost in fires already. 
I also urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring H.R. 1824, the 
Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003. This legislation provides a tax 
credit to businesses that choose to install fire sprinklers, thus 
helping to offset the cost of State mandates and encouraging buildings 
to exceed local fire codes for the safety of the occupants.
  While nothing can be done to bring back the victims from this 
horrific tragedy, the Rhode Island government has honored the victims 
of this disaster by working to prevent a similar situation from 
occurring in the future, and I applaud the State for its efforts.

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