Submitted Resolutions

Floor Speech

SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - March 14, 2007)

SENATE RESOLUTION 105--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2007 AS ``CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH''

Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

S. Res. 105

Whereas tragic fires in student housing in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania have cut short the lives of college students in the United States;

Whereas, since January 2000, at least 99 people, including students, parents, and children, have died in campus-related fires;

Whereas more than 75 percent of those deaths occurred in off-campus occupancies;

Whereas a majority of the students in the United States live in off-campus occupancies;

Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings in which the fire safety systems have been compromised or disabled by the occupants;

Whereas automatic fire alarm systems provide the early warning of a fire that is necessary for occupants and the fire department to take appropriate action;

Whereas automatic fire sprinkler systems are a highly effective method for controlling or extinguishing a fire in its early stages and protecting the lives of the building's occupants;

Whereas many students are living in off-campus occupancies, sorority and fraternity housing, and residence halls that are not adequately protected with automatic fire alarm systems and automatic fire sprinkler systems;

Whereas fire safety education is an effective method of reducing the occurrence of fires and the resulting loss of life and property damage;

Whereas students are not routinely receiving effective fire safety education throughout their entire college careers;

Whereas it is vital to educate future generations in the United States about the importance of fire safety to help ensure the safety of young people during their college years and beyond; and

Whereas by educating a generation of adults about fire safety, future loss of life from fires may be significantly reduced: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates September 2007 as ``Campus Fire Safety Month''; and

(2) encourages administrators of institutions of higher education and municipalities--

(A) to provide educational programs about fire safety to all students during ``Campus Fire Safety Month'' and throughout the school year;

(B) to evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in both on- and off-campus student housing; and

(C) to take the necessary steps to ensure fire-safe living environments through fire safety education, installation of fire suppression and detection systems, and the development and enforcement of applicable codes relating to fire safety.

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