[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY RIGHT TO KNOW ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 23, 2007

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, 7 years ago this month, Seton Hall 
University in South Orange, NJ, suffered a horrible tragedy, as a fire 
ripped through one of its residence halls. That fire killed 3 young 
freshmen and wounded 58 other students.
  Unfortunately, campus fires have become all too common. Each year, 
thousands of fires rage through the campuses and off-campus housing of 
our colleges and universities. Since January 2000, almost 100 people 
have died in campus-related fires across the country. In 2006 alone, 12 
people were killed.
  Last week, I was proud to reintroduce the Campus Fire Safety Right to 
Know Act of 2007, H.R. 592, in response to this problem. This bill is 
widely supported, and has garnered 28 bipartisan cosponsors to date. 
Senator Frank Lautenberg has also introduced companion legislation in 
the Senate, S. 354.
  This landmark legislation calls for colleges and universities to 
report vital fire safety information to the U.S. Department of 
Education. This will allow prospective students and their parents to 
make informed decisions regarding a fire-safe school based on criteria 
such as the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems, automatic 
fire alarm systems, fire prevention training and other related factors.
  The Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act does not mandate upgrades; 
it simply requires schools to collect and report data crucial to the 
safety and well-being of students and other residents.
  The fact that this legislation was passed by the House of 
Representatives in the 109th Congress was due, in no small part, to the 
tremendous support provided by leading fire safety organizations. These 
and other organizations have joined with me once again to support this 
vital legislation in order to protect our students on campuses across 
the Nation. They are working tirelessly every day to improve fire 
safety for our citizens, and I want to recognize and commend them for 
their support and their leadership.
  These fourteen organizations include Campus Firewatch, The Center for 
Campus Fire Safety, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the 
International Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of 
Fire Fighters, the International Code Council, the International Fire 
Marshals Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, 
the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the National Fire 
Protection Association, the National Fire Sprinkler Association, the 
National Volunteer Fire Council, the Society of Fire Protection 
Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories.
  Madam Speaker, I urge Congress to act now on this important 
legislation so that we may ensure a safe school environment for all 
college and university students. When we entrust our children to any 
institution, we expect that they will be in a safe environment. And we 
have the right to expect that much.

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