SENATE RESOLUTION 295--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2019 AS ``CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH''; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 130
(Senate - July 31, 2019)
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[Pages S5256-S5257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 295--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2019 AS
``CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH''
Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Carper, and Ms. Warren) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 295
Whereas campus-related housing fires at colleges in Texas,
Oregon, Illinois, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and other
States have tragically cut short the lives of several young
people;
Whereas, since January 2000, at least 175 people, including
students, parents, and children, have died in campus-related
fires;
Whereas approximately 87 percent of those deaths occurred
in off-campus occupancies;
Whereas a majority of college students in the United States
live in off-campus occupancies;
Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings
in which the occupants had compromised or deactivated the
fire safety systems;
Whereas automatic fire alarm systems and smoke alarms
provide early warning of a fire that is necessary for
occupants of a building and the fire department to take
appropriate action;
Whereas an automatic fire sprinkler system is a highly
effective method of controlling or extinguishing a fire in
its early stages, protecting the lives of the building
occupants;
Whereas many college students live in an off-campus
occupancy, fraternity or sorority house, or residence hall
that is not adequately protected by an automatic fire
sprinkler system and an automatic fire alarm system or
adequate smoke alarm;
Whereas fire safety education is an effective method of
reducing the occurrence of fires and the resulting loss of
life and property damage;
Whereas college students do not routinely receive effective
fire safety education while in college;
Whereas educating young people in the United States about
the importance of fire safety is vital to help ensure that
young people engage in fire-safe behavior during college and
after college; and
Whereas developing a generation of adults who practice fire
safety may significantly reduce future loss of life: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the month of September 2019 as ``Campus Fire
Safety Month''; and
[[Page S5257]]
(2) encourages administrators of institutions of higher
education and municipalities across the United States--
(A) to provide educational programs about fire safety to
all college students in September and throughout the school
year;
(B) to evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in
both on-campus and off-campus student housing; and
(C) to ensure fire-safe living environments through--
(i) fire safety education;
(ii) installation of fire suppression and detection systems
and smoke alarms; and
(iii) the development and enforcement of applicable codes
relating to fire safety.
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