[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 143 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10785-H10786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
      SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 95) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Campus Fire Safety 
Month, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 95

       Whereas in 2006, thirty-one states issued proclamations 
     recognizing September as Campus Fire Safety Month;
       Whereas since January 2000, at least 113 people, including 
     students, parents, and children have died in student housing 
     fires;
       Whereas over three-fourths of these deaths have occurred in 
     off-campus occupancies;
       Whereas a majority of the students across the Nation live 
     in off-campus occupancies;
       Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings 
     where the fire safety systems have been compromised or 
     disabled by the occupants;
       Whereas it is recognized that automatic fire alarm systems 
     provide the necessary early warning to occupants and the fire 
     department of a fire so that appropriate action can be taken;
       Whereas it is recognized that automatic fire sprinkler 
     systems are a highly effective method of controlling or 
     extinguishing a fire in its early stages, protecting the 
     lives of the building's occupants;
       Whereas many students are living in off-campus occupancies, 
     Greek housing, and residence halls that are not adequately 
     protected with automatic fire sprinkler systems and automatic 
     fire alarm systems;
       Whereas it is recognized that fire safety education is an 
     effective method of reducing the occurrence of fires and 
     reducing the resulting loss of life and property damage;
       Whereas students are not routinely receiving effective fire 
     safety education throughout their entire college career;
       Whereas it is vital to educate the future generation of our 
     Nation about the importance of fire safety behavior so that 
     these behaviors can help to ensure their safety during their 
     college years and beyond; and
       Whereas by developing a generation of fire-safe adults, 
     future loss of life from fires can be significantly reduced: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Campus Fire Safety 
     Month;
       (2) encourages administrators and municipalities across the 
     country to provide educational programs to all students 
     during September and throughout the school year; and
       (3) encourages administrators and municipalities to 
     evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in both on- 
     and off-campus student housing and take the necessary steps 
     to ensure fire-safe living environments through fire safety 
     education, installation of fire suppression and detection 
     systems and the development and enforcement of applicable 
     codes relating to fire safety.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Holt) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 95 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express support for the goals 
and ideals of Campus Fire Safety Month, introduced by the 
representative from Ohio, Mrs. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Campus fire 
safety is an important issue for students all over the country. Since 
January of 2000, at least 113 young people have died in student housing 
fires. These unfortunate deaths may have been prevented by better 
education of fire safety measures and implementation of effective 
prevention systems.
  In my own State of New Jersey, early on January 19, 2000, a fire 
killed three students and injured 58 others at Seton Hall University. 
Over 75 percent of these fatalities around the country have occurred in 
off-campus housing. It should be a priority to make sure that all 
students are aware of fire safety information, especially those 
students who do not live in on-campus housing. Fire safety training 
should be a continuing process so that our Nation's young people 
practice fire safety throughout their lives.
  As we send our Nation's students off to campuses this month to 
further their education, it is essential that they are in safe 
environments. Simple steps such as testing smoke detectors and having a 
working and accessible fire extinguisher can help keep our students 
safe. By recognizing September as Campus Fire Safety Month, this 
resolution will help bring awareness to such simple and critical 
measures to protect students from fire hazards.
  Mr. Speaker, the knowledge and skills learned through fire safety 
training are invaluable for everyone. I would like to encourage 
administrators and municipalities across the country to provide 
educational programs to all students during September and throughout 
the school year.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 95, a measure to support the goals and ideals of Campus Fire 
Safety Month. We passed a similar resolution last Congress promoting 
the establishment of September as Campus Fire Safety Month. Since that 
time, 31 States have issued proclamations recognizing September as 
Campus Fire Safety Month.
  Our Nation's college students should be able to live on campus with 
the confidence that they will be safe in their dorms, apartments or 
other housing. This measure will take a key step toward ensuring 
greater awareness of campus fire prevention and safety. I

[[Page H10786]]

thank my colleagues, Representatives Tubbs Jones and Whitfield, for 
taking the lead on this important topic.
  There are numerous examples nationwide that demonstrate a renewed 
commitment to campus fire safety. In my home State of Minnesota, the 
University of Minnesota system equips dorms with smoke detectors and is 
working now to ensure that residence halls and individual dormitory 
rooms have sprinkler systems. They use flame-resistant mattresses and 
other materials to provide students with the safest furniture 
available. In another example, New York State Office of Fire Prevention 
and Control trains college officials and distributes materials that can 
be used in training college students on campus fire safety. These are 
just two examples of the good work being done at the State level to 
increase awareness of fire safety on college campuses.
  The legislation before us today is sure to raise awareness even 
further. This is not the first time that campus safety has been 
discussed in the House. In the 109th Congress, we passed the College 
Access and Opportunity Act which endorsed an effort to ask colleges and 
universities to report annually on fire safety efforts. The report 
would include information such as a list of all student housing 
facilities and whether or not each is equipped with a sprinkler system 
or other fire safety system, statistics on occurrences of fires and 
false alarms, information on various fire safety rules and regulations, 
and information about training provided to students, faculty and staff. 
Moreover, the measure asks schools to keep a publicly available log of 
all on-campus fires and false alarms.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. I appreciate the remarks of the gentleman from Minnesota. 
May I ask if he has any further speakers?
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. I have no further speakers. I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from Minnesota has said, we 
are safer, students in dormitories and off-campus housing are safer 
than they were 6, 8 years ago. We have learned things to do. In this 
case, we know what to do. The education should be carried forward. 
Designation of this awareness month will help in that educational 
effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support enthusiastically this 
measure.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker I rise today in support of H. Res. 
95, a bipartisan resolution that I, along with Mr. Whitfield, 
introduced to establish September as Campus Fire Safety Month.
  This legislation encourages administrators and municipalities across 
the country to provide educational programs to all students during 
September and throughout the school year on fire safety.
  Additionally, the resolution calls for evaluation of the level of 
fire safety being provided in both on- and off-campus student housing 
and taking the necessary steps to ensure fire-safe living environments 
through fire safety education, installation of fire suppression and 
detection systems and the development and enforcement of applicable 
codes relating to fire safety.
  In June, the Senate adopted a similar resolution, sponsored by 
Senator Joe Biden, that also encourages campus fire safety across the 
Nation.
  Nationwide, 113 people have been killed in student housing since 
January 2000, as identified by the Center for Campus Fire Safety, a 
nonprofit organization that compiles information on campus-related 
fires. Almost 80 percent of the fire fatalities have occurred in off-
campus occupancies such as rented houses and apartments. Common factors 
in a number of these fires include: lack of automatic sprinklers, 
disabled smoke alarms, careless disposal of smoking materials, and 
alcohol consumption. According to the center, April and May, followed 
by August and September, are the two most dangerous periods of time for 
student housing fire fatalities. So far 31 States have issued 
proclamations declaring September as Campus Fire Safety Month. 
Historically, September is one of the most fatal months for campus 
fires, but for the first time since 2000 there were no fatalities last 
September.
  H. Res. 95 is supported by the Center for Campus Fire Safety, 
National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Congressional Fire 
Services Institute, National Fire Protection Association, International 
Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, 
National Fire Sprinkler Association, International Code Council, 
Society of Fire Protection Engineers, International Association of Fire 
Marshals.
  For the past few Congresses I have introduced H.R. 642, known as the 
College Fire and Prevention Act. This legislation would establish a 
demonstration incentive program within the Department of Education to 
promote installation of fire sprinkler systems, or other fire 
suppression or prevention technologies, in qualified student housing or 
dormitories, and for other purposes. The Congressional Fire Services 
Institute, the National Fire Sprinkler Association and the American 
Fire Sprinkler Association have endorsed this fire prevention 
legislation.
  Fire safety and prevention is an issue that needs to be addressed 
across this country. Over these few years we have seen many tragedies 
involving fire at colleges, places of business, entertainment venues 
and places of residence. We must begin to put in place suppression 
measures against fires and increase support and resources for our fire 
fighters to ensure that no more lives are lost to fires that could have 
been prevented. I am pleased to say that this institution adopted this 
resolution in the 109th Congress and will do so again today. It is 
encouraging that we remain committed to bringing awareness to this 
issue in order to prevent more needless deaths of our students.
  I encourage my colleagues to pass this legislation so that we can 
increase awareness about this problem that affects us all.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 95, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HOLT. 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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