[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20186-20188]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPTEMBER AS CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH

  Mr. JINDAL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 295) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives supporting the establishment of September as Campus 
Fire Safety Month, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 295

       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 be significantly reduced: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (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

[[Page 20187]]

     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 
Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. JINDAL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H. Res. 295.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JINDAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 295, a measure to 
support establishment of September as Campus Fire Safety Month. So 
often in this Chamber we consider legislation to expand access to 
college and strengthen our Federal higher education programs. Today, we 
have an opportunity to discuss the need to bolster safety on college 
campuses, specifically fire safety; and we are right to do so. 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 this issue.
  I thank my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), for taking the lead and 
offering this legislation.
  This is not the first time this year that campus fire safety has been 
a priority for the House. In March, when we passed the College Access 
and Opportunity Act, we also endorsed an effort to ask colleges and 
universities to report annually on fire safety efforts. The report 
would include such information as a list of all student housing 
facilities and whether or not they were equipped with a sprinkler 
system or other fire safety program, as well as statistics on 
occurrences of fires, false alarms, information on various fire safety 
rules and regulations, and other measures as well.
  Mr. Speaker, although that measure has not advanced with our friends 
on the other side of the Capitol, today we have the opportunity to 
demonstrate our continued commitment to the safety of college students.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, and I 
thank the primary authors of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 295, a bill to establish 
September as Campus Fire Safety Month.
  As students get back into the full swing of the school year, we all 
know that the need to be prepared for campus fire is the last thing 
perhaps on their mind.
  Since January of 2000, the Center for Campus Fire Safety has 
identified 89 fire fatalities in student housing. Almost 80 percent of 
these deaths have occurred in off-campus housing such as rented houses 
and apartments.
  Last year, a number of States across the Nation issued proclamations 
for September, and many schools held events on campus to educate their 
students about fire safety. This summer, the Center for Campus Safety 
convened a summer conference of college administrators, fire 
organizations and legislators to further the work and progress of many 
of the stakeholders. We hope through education and attention to the 
dangers on and off campus we can reduce the numbers of fires.
  H. Res. 295 is the first step in recognizing September as Campus Fire 
Safety Month on a national level, which is being done in conjunction 
with many States and colleges and universities across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Jones), the sponsor of this legislation, and I ask unanimous 
consent that she be permitted to manage the remainder of our time on 
this side for H. Res. 295.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank my colleagues for support 
of H. Res. 295. I rise in support of this bipartisan resolution 
introduced to establish September as Campus Fire Safety Month.
  I want to commend my colleague, my cosponsor, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), for all of the work he has been doing in 
this area. Many of you recognize that Mr. Weldon has long been involved 
in fire safety law enforcement and with firefighter issues during his 
career.
  This legislation encourages administrators and municipalities across 
the country to provide educational programs to all students during 
September and throughout the school year.
  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.
  It encourages installation of fire suppression and detection systems 
and the development and enforcement of applicable codes relating to 
fire safety.
  My colleague in the Senate, Mr. Mike DeWine, introduced companion 
legislation to this resolution in the Senate.
  My colleagues have already talked about 89 people having been killed 
in student housing since January of 2000. 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 for Campus Fire Safety, April and May, 
followed by August and September, are the two most dangerous periods of 
time for student housing fire fatalities. Last year, September was 
designated as National Campus Fire Safety Month. Currently, 27 States 
have issued proclamations declaring September as Campus Fire Safety 
Month.
  H. Res. 295 is supported by the Center for Campus Fire Safety, the 
National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the Congressional Fire 
Services Institute, the National Fire Protection Association, the 
International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association 
of Firefighters, the National Fire Sprinkler Association, the 
International Code Council, Society of Fire Protection Engineers and 
the International Fire Marshals.
  It is also supported by many colleges fraternities and sororities 
across this country, and they have been advocates on our behalf.
  For the past few Congresses, I have introduced H. Res. 128, known as 
the College Fire and Prevention Act.

                              {time}  2100

  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 and others 
have endorsed this fire prevention legislation.
  Fire safety and prevention is an issue that needs to be addressed 
across the country. Over these few years we have seen many tragedies 
involving fires at colleges, places of business, entertainment venues, 
and places of residence. We must begin to put in place our fire 
suppression measures against fires and increase support and resources 
for our firefighters to ensure that no more lives are lost to fires 
that could have been prevented.
  I thank all of my colleagues for supporting this resolution, and I 
know

[[Page 20188]]

that students across this country, and particularly their parents, will 
be very happy that we have begun the process of instituting this 
legislation.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to pass this legislation so that we 
can increase awareness about this problem that affects us all.
  And besides that I want to thank my staff, one of them on the floor 
tonight, Steve Abbott, and others who have worked so very hard with me 
in order to get this legislation passed.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. JINDAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to close by praising my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle but also praising Mr. Weldon, who I know wanted 
to be here to speak on this. My colleague is correct: I think he is the 
only former fire chief to be serving in the United States Congress. He 
has been a vocal leader on the need for fire safety and a strong 
supporter of our first responders, and I know he feels very strongly 
about the legislation in front of us.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge quick passage of the resolution.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 295, 
which establishes September as Campus Fire Safety Month.
  I applaud the efforts of my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, in bringing this matter to the floor today.
  The statistics relating to fire safety on college campuses are 
startling. Since January 2000, 89 campus-related fire fatalities have 
been reported in the United States. Three of these were in my home 
state of New Jersey alone. So far in 2006, we have already lost 11 
students to fires on college campuses.
  What these tragedies mean is that too many families have had to 
suffer the unbearable horror of losing a loved one right at the 
beginning of a promising life.
  Despite these fires, many campus communities have taken far too long 
to act. Indeed, only 35 percent of dormitories and fraternity/sorority 
houses that suffer fires are equipped with life-saving sprinkler 
systems.
  It is clear that the campus community is falling far behind in fire 
safety standards and we must do more to urge them to take the steps 
needed to curb this disturbing trend.


                               seton hall

  I became deeply involved in the issue of campus fire safety after 
experiencing the terrible aftermath of a catastrophic fire at Seton 
Hall University in New Jersey in 2000.
  That fire killed three young freshmen and wounded 58 other students 
in a dorm on campus.


                  campus fire safety right to know act

  In response to the devastating fire, I introduced the ``Campus Fire 
Safety Right to Know Act,'' which passed the House as part of the 
``College Access and Opportunity Act'' in March 2006.
  This bipartisan legislation required colleges and universities to 
provide prospective and current students and parents with a report of 
the school's campus fire safety policies and records.


                  campus fire safety month legislation

  Now, we're talking about designating September as National Campus 
Fire Safety Month.
  Currently, 27 states have issued proclamations declaring September as 
Campus Fire Safety Month. Historically, September is one of the most 
fatal months for campus fires.
  In recognizing this tragic trend on America's campuses, H. Res. 295 
will provide a platform to alert students, their parents, and school 
administrators to the dangers of campus fires.
  H. Res. 295 encourages colleges and universities across the country 
to provide educational programs to all students in September and 
throughout the school year.
  It urges administrators and municipalities to evaluate the level of 
fire safety being provided in both on and off campus housing.
  They can then take the necessary steps to ensure fire-safe living 
conditions through fire safety education; the installation of fire 
suppression and detection systems; and the development and enforcement 
of applicable codes relating to fire safety.
  Mrs. Tubbs Jones' legislation will help to publicize common sense 
measures that can be taken to prevent the senseless death, injury, and 
loss of property that result from these tragedies.
  H. Res. 295 is supported by the Center for Campus Fire Safety, the 
National Fire Protection Association, the International Association of 
Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the 
National Association of State Fire Marshals, and many others.


                               conclusion

  Educating students about fire safety during their time in school will 
have a strong impact on the choices they make in the future. If we can 
influence what they learn, we can create a more fire-safe generation 
for tomorrow and potentially save thousands, of lives.
  This is the least we can do for our students. When we entrust our 
young people to any institution, we expect that they will be in a safe 
environment. And we have the right to expect that much.
  Mr. JINDAL. 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 Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 295.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________