[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E892-E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN PHILIP C. 
     STITTLEBURG, REMARKS ON THE CIGARETTE FIRE SAFETY ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 18, 2004

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following statement for the 
Record:

       On behalf of the National Volunteer Fire Council and the 
     more than 800,000 members of America's volunteer fire and 
     emergency services, I would like to thank Representative Ed 
     Markey (MA) and Peter King (NY) for their steadfast 
     leadership and long-time commitment to the implementation of 
     fire safety standards for cigarettes.
       H.R. 4155 is bipartisan legislation which will set a 
     reasonable ignition standard for cigarettes and help to 
     prevent an estimated 800 deaths, 2,200 injuries and nearly 
     $560 million dollars in damages caused by cigarette ignited 
     fires every year. Cigarettes are the leading cause of fatal 
     fires and children and firefighters themselves are at 
     extremely high risk for burn and fire injuries from these 
     fires. That is why this issue resonates so strongly for us 
     and continues to be a priority of our organization.
       As everyone is aware, both New York State and Canada have 
     passed cigarette fire safety standards that are due to go 
     into effect this summer. This legislation will require that 
     the CPSC adopt the New York cigarette fire safety standard as 
     the national standard.
       On April 30, a 69-year-old Portland, Oregon woman died 
     after a cigarette she was smoking in bed ignited a fire. On 
     April 28, a 64-

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     year-old Pensacola, Florida woman was killed in a house fire 
     that was started by a lit cigarette. On April 27, a 
     Kingsbury, New York man died in a fire at his home when he 
     fell asleep while smoking. We need to pass this legislation 
     immediately to put an end to the seemingly endless list of 
     tragedies caused by cigarette-related fires.
       I would like to again thank Representatives Markey and King 
     and the bipartisan group of Members of Congress who are 
     cosponsors of this bill for their leadership on this 
     lifesaving piece of legislation. The volunteer fire service 
     in America stands behind you and we stand ready to assist you 
     in anyway possible to pass the Cigarette Fire Safety Act. 
     Thank you.

                          ____________________