SENATE RESOLUTION 723--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS ``CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH''; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 166
(Senate - September 24, 2020)
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[Pages S5877-S5878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 723--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS ``CAMPUS FIRE
SAFETY MONTH''
Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Carper) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 723
Whereas campus-related housing fires at colleges in Texas,
Oregon, Illinois, Pennsylvania, other States, and Washington,
D.C. have tragically cut the lives of several young
individuals short;
Whereas, since January 2000, at least 175 individuals,
including students, parents, and children, have died in
campus-related fires;
Whereas approximately 87 percent of those campus-related
fire deaths occurred in off-campus housing;
Whereas a majority of college students in the United States
live in off-campus housing;
Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings
in which the occupants had compromised or deactivated 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 building occupants;
Whereas many college students live in off-campus housing, a
fraternity or sorority
[[Page S5878]]
house, or a residence hall that is not adequately protected
by an automatic fire sprinkler system, an automatic fire
alarm system, or an adequate smoke alarm;
Whereas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, college students are
taking more courses online and spending more time indoors,
thus increasing the need for fire safety and prevention
education;
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 individuals in the United States
about the importance of fire safety is vital to help ensure
that young individuals 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 September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety
Month''; and
(2) encourages administrators of institutions of higher
education and municipalities across the United States--
(A) to provide educational programs about fire safety to
all students of institutions of higher education in September
and throughout the school year;
(B) to evaluate the level of fire safety provided in both
on-campus and off-campus student housing; and
(C) to ensure fire-safe living environments through--
(i) fire safety education;
(ii) the 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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