The Campus Fire Safety Right To Know Act of 2007

THE CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY RIGHT TO KNOW ACT OF 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - January 23, 2007)

* Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, 7 years ago this month, Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, suffered a horrible tragedy, as a fire ripped through one of its residence halls. That fire killed 3 young freshmen and wounded 58 other students.

* Unfortunately, campus fires have become all too common. Each year, thousands of fires rage through the campuses and off-campus housing of our colleges and universities. Since January 2000, almost 100 people have died in campus-related fires across the country. In 2006 alone, 12 people were killed.

* Last week, I was proud to reintroduce the Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act of 2007, H.R. 592, in response to this problem. This bill is widely supported, and has garnered 28 bipartisan cosponsors to date. Senator FRANK LAUTENBERG has also introduced companion legislation in the Senate, S. 354.

* This landmark legislation calls for colleges and universities to report vital fire safety information to the U.S. Department of Education. This will allow prospective students and their parents to make informed decisions regarding a fire-safe school based on criteria such as the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems, automatic fire alarm systems, fire prevention training and other related factors.

* The Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act does not mandate upgrades; it simply requires schools to collect and report data crucial to the safety and well-being of students and other residents.

* The fact that this legislation was passed by the House of Representatives in the 109th Congress was due, in no small part, to the tremendous support provided by leading fire safety organizations. These and other organizations have joined with me once again to support this vital legislation in order to protect our students on campuses across the Nation. They are working tirelessly every day to improve fire safety for our citizens, and I want to recognize and commend them for their support and their leadership.

* These fourteen organizations include Campus Firewatch, The Center for Campus Fire Safety, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the International Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Code Council, the International Fire Marshals Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Sprinkler Association, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories.

* Madam Speaker, I urge Congress to act now on this important legislation so that we may ensure a safe school environment for all college and university students. When we entrust our children to any institution, we expect that they will be in a safe environment. And we have the right to expect that much.

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