Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as Campus Fire Safety Month.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 528 Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as Campus Fire Safety Month. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 25, 2019 Mr. PASCRELL (for himself and Mr. KING of New York) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as Campus Fire Safety Month. Whereas student-related housing fires in Texas, Oregon, Illi- nois, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and other schools across the country have tragically cut short the lives of some of the youth of the Nation; Whereas, since January 2000, at least 175 people, including students, parents, and children have died in college-re- lated fires; Whereas approximately 87 percent of these deaths have oc- curred in off-campus occupancies; Whereas a majority of the students across the Nation live in off-campus occupancies; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Jul 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR528.IH HR528 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 528 IH 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 and smoke alarms provide the necessary early warning to occupants and the fire department of a fire so that ap- propriate action can be taken; Whereas it is recognized that automatic fire sprinkler systems are a highly effective method of controlling or extin- guishing 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 ade- quately protected with automatic fire sprinkler systems and automatic fire alarm systems or adequate smoke alarms; Whereas it is recognized that fire safety education is an effec- tive method of reducing the occurrence of fires and re- ducing 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 the Nation about the importance of fire safety behavior so that these behaviors can help to ensure their safety dur- ing 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Jul 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR528.IH HR528 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 528 IH (1) supports the establishment of Campus Fire 1 Safety Month; 2 (2) encourages schools and municipalities 3 across the country to provide educational programs 4 to all students throughout the school year; and 5 (3) encourages schools and municipalities to 6 evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in 7 both on- and off-campus student housing and take 8 the necessary steps to ensure fire-safe living environ- 9 ments through fire safety education, installation of 10 fire suppression and detection systems and smoke 11 alarms and the development and enforcement of ap- 12 plicable codes relating to fire safety. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Jul 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR528.IH HR528 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS