[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14482]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE HONORING CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Trust for Public 
anniversary of Campus Fire Safety Month.
  In September 2005, eleven sitting Governors issued the first 
proclamation recognizing the month of September as Campus Fire Safety 
Month. Ever since, public officials across the country have continued 
to champion the cause of campus fire safety.
  Since 2005, over 200 proclamations in honor of Campus Fire Safety 
Month have been issued by Governors, Legislators, and public officials. 
I am proud to add my voice in recognition of September as Campus Fire 
Safety Month.
  I first became involved in the issue of campus fire safety following 
a tragic fire at Seton Hall University in my district, in which three 
students were killed. Since that time, we have made many strides, 
including the passage of the Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act, 
which will ensure that prospective students and their families are 
provided with the fire safety records, information and statistics of 
colleges and universities.
  However, there is still much work that must be done. Since 2000, 155 
students have tragically died in campus-related fires. While the annual 
number of fire-related deaths has significantly dropped since 2005, 
nine students still died in possibly preventable fire-related deaths in 
2011.
  That is why now, more than ever, we must do all that we can to 
promote fire safety instruction amongst our nation's college campuses.
  It is my sincere hope, that college campuses in New Jersey and across 
the nation will participate in Campus Fire Safety Month activities 
throughout September. We must do all that we can to keep our nation's 
students safe and informed. This is also why I introduced the Campus 
Fire Safety Education Act, to provide universities with grants they can 
use to develop or implement campus fire safety education strategies. We 
must do everything in our power to ensure the safety and security of 
our children when they leave for college.
  The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is 
rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating vital 
observances like Campus Fire Safety Month.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, students, 
firefighters and educators, in recognizing September as Campus Fire 
Safety Month.

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