[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19284-19285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 224--TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE SUPPORTING 
  THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPTEMBER AS CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH, AND FOR 
                             OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. DeWINE (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 224

       Whereas recent student housing fires in Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
     Tennessee, and Maryland have tragically cut short the lives 
     of some of the youth of our Nation;
       Whereas since January 2000, at least 75 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

[[Page 19285]]

     be significantly reduced: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the establishment of September as 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.

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