[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1267-S1268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE STATION NIGHTCLUB FIRE

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to recall one of the most 
tragic events in the history of the State of Rhode Island. It was 
almost 1 year ago, on February 20, 2003, that a devastating fire 
destroyed the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI, killing 100 people 
and injuring nearly 300 more. The impact of this horrific incident on 
our small State is beyond measure, as most Rhode Islanders either 
suffered a direct loss, or knew someone who died or was injured in this 
blaze.
  The first anniversary of the fire will bring back painful memories 
for many in our community. I want to express my heartfelt condolences 
to the families of those who perished and to let them know that our 
thoughts and prayers remain with them and with the survivors who 
continue to struggle with the physical and mental toll of this horrible 
event.
  Looking back on the West Warwick fire and its aftermath also reminds 
us that it brought out the best in our people. In the first minutes and 
hours of this tragedy, our firefighters, police, and emergency medical 
personnel performed heroically under terrifying circumstances, as did 
many of the patrons who were at the scene and helped to save others. 
Nearby small businesses like the Cowesett Inn restaurant were turned 
into triage centers, and first responders from throughout southern New 
England descended upon West Warwick to do whatever they could to help.
  I visited victims at all of our hospitals and in Boston as well. I 
was inspired by their courage and the extraordinary skill and 
compassion of countless doctors, nurses and health professionals.
  As our Nation continues to fight the war on terror, the response to 
the West Warwick fire provides a good illustration of the progress we 
have made--and

[[Page S1268]]

how far we have to go--in improving our emergency management 
capabilities. As the magnitude of the tragedy became known, the Rhode 
Island Emergency Management Agency and hospitals throughout southern 
New England activated emergency incident command systems, many of which 
were designed after September 11, 2001. The process of rescuing and 
treating victims, putting out the blaze, identifying bodies, accounting 
for the missing, providing crisis counseling for survivors put a 
tremendous strain on State and local agencies.
  I have no doubt that Rhode Island's post-September 11 emergency 
management planning efforts, backed by Federal assistance programs 
through the new Department of Homeland Security, made a difference in 
responding to the West Warwick fire.
  In the past year, Rhode Island's ability to respond to mass casualty 
events has been further improved with the help of Federal programs such 
as the State Homeland Security Grant Program, the Assistance to 
Firefighters Grant Program, Interoperable Communications grants, and 
the Department of Health and Human Services' bioterror response grants 
to hospitals. All told, Congress has provided more than $75 million to 
Rhode Island over the past 3 years for emergency management and 
terrorism prevention and response. Yet we continue to face tremendous 
challenges, and we need to do more.
  I want to say a special word of thanks to my colleagues Senator Gregg 
and Senator Hollings for their strong support in securing funding 
through the Department of Justice to reimburse State and local law 
enforcement agencies in Rhode Island for extraordinary expenses related 
to the fire.
  The Station nightclub fire was a catastrophe. Fault will be appointed 
in the days ahead by the civil and criminal courts, but Rhode Island is 
already taking steps to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens 
again. The Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Comprehensive Fire 
Safety Act of 2003 to repeal the ``grandfather'' exemption from modern 
fire codes and require more sprinklers in places of public assembly, 
especially nightclubs. The law also bans pyrotechnics in most indoor 
venues and gives greater power to fire inspectors. The State fire 
marshal now faces the task of training the State's fire inspectors and 
meeting with businesses and institutions to explain how the code 
applied to individual buildings.
  As State and local officials across the country reexamine their fire 
and building codes and step up enforcement of safety practices in 
public buildings. Congress should do everything it can to support this 
effort and to encourage both State and local governments and Federal 
agencies to adopt and strictly enforce the most current fire and 
building consensus codes. I was also proud to join my colleague Senator 
Hollings in introducing the American Home Fire Safety Act--S. 1798--to 
require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to implement 
comprehensive fire safety standards for upholstered furniture, 
mattresses, bedclothing, and candles.
  No one in Rhode Island will forget the tragic events of February 20, 
2003, and I hope we will never forget the way Rhode Islanders came 
together in that dark hour to do whatever was needed to save lives and 
relieve the suffering of the victims. That generous spirit has 
continued. Over the past year, Rhode Islanders and Americans across the 
country have donated more than $3 million to the Station Nightclub Fire 
Relief Fund to help families affected by the tragedy, including 
children who lost parents in the fire.
  We often hear that it is in times of crisis that a person's true 
nature is revealed. That standard applies to communities as well, and 
as we approach a painful anniversary that will again focus the world's 
attention on the sorrow and grief felt by so many Rhode Islanders, I 
believe the people of our State have much to be proud of for the way 
they responded to this tragedy. It is now our duty to do all that we 
can to make sure that no community ever again faces a catastrophe like 
this one.
  I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant journal clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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