Reps/ Pascrell, King, Senator Lautenberg Introduce Fire Safety Legislation

Press Release

Continuing their efforts to make our nation's college campuses safer from the dangers of fire, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter King (R-NY) and U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill that would provide college students with fire safety education and training. Both legislative efforts were inspired by the tragic fire at a Seton Hall University dormitory more than 10 years ago.

"I am proud to reintroduce the Campus Fire Safety Education Act with Congressman King and Senator Lautenberg," said Congressman Pascrell, a member of the House Ways and Means and Budget Committees. "This vital legislation will work to prevent tragedies like the catastrophic fire at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, in 2000. That fire killed three young freshmen and wounded 58 other students in a dorm on campus. This legislation creates a new competitive grant program at our institutions of higher education that will increase fire safety awareness among college students, help improve their fire training, and save lives. It gives colleges and universities the resources they need to educate their students about the importance of fire safety and help ensure fire-safe behavior during their time in college and beyond."

"It is critical that college students have the tools they need to prevent fires and react swiftly and confidently when they happen," said Senator Lautenberg. "This legislation will ensure colleges have the resources to equip every student with important fire safety training. Our hearts were broken after the fire at Seton Hall, and I've been proud to partner with Representatives Pascrell and King to help make sure such a tragedy never happens again. We'll keep working hard so that when parents send their kids off to college, they know they are safe from fires."

"It is important that our colleges and universities have the necessary resources to provide essential fire safety and fire-behavior education to ensure the safety of all our students," stated Congressman King.

The Campus Fire Safety Education Act of 2013, which creates a new competitive Campus Fire Safety Education Grant Program at institutions of higher education, will increase fire safety awareness among college students, help improve their fire training, and save lives.

Funding may be used to initiate, expand, or improve a fire safety education program on their campus. Schools can apply on their own or in collaboration with a nonprofit fire safety organization or public safety department, and may include a fraterniContinuing their efforts to make our nation's college campuses safer from the dangers of fire, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter King (R-NY) and U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill that would provide college students with fire safety education and training. Both legislative efforts were inspired by the tragic fire at a Seton Hall University dormitory more than 10 years ago.

"I am proud to reintroduce the Campus Fire Safety Education Act with Congressman King and Senator Lautenberg," said Congressman Pascrell, a member of the House Ways and Means and Budget Committees. "This vital legislation will work to prevent tragedies like the catastrophic fire at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, in 2000. That fire killed three young freshmen and wounded 58 other students in a dorm on campus. This legislation creates a new competitive grant program at our institutions of higher education that will increase fire safety awareness among college students, help improve their fire training, and save lives. It gives colleges and universities the resources they need to educate their students about the importance of fire safety and help ensure fire-safe behavior during their time in college and beyond."

"It is critical that college students have the tools they need to prevent fires and react swiftly and confidently when they happen," said Senator Lautenberg. "This legislation will ensure colleges have the resources to equip every student with important fire safety training. Our hearts were broken after the fire at Seton Hall, and I've been proud to partner with Representatives Pascrell and King to help make sure such a tragedy never happens again. We'll keep working hard so that when parents send their kids off to college, they know they are safe from fires."

"It is important that our colleges and universities have the necessary resources to provide essential fire safety and fire-behavior education to ensure the safety of all our students," stated Congressman King.

The Campus Fire Safety Education Act of 2013, which creates a new competitive Campus Fire Safety Education Grant Program at institutions of higher education, will increase fire safety awareness among college students, help improve their fire training, and save lives.

Funding may be used to initiate, expand, or improve a fire safety education program on their campus. Schools can apply on their own or in collaboration with a nonprofit fire safety organization or public safety department, and may include a fraternity and sorority. Since a high proportion of student fires occur off-campus, schools will be encouraged to use these funds to educate students living both on- and off-campus.

The legislation is endorsed by a number of fire safety and campus organizations, including College and University Housing Officers International, Campus Firewatch, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Fire Marshals Association, Kerry Rose Foundation, Michael H. Minger Foundation, National Association of State Fire Marshals, Ohio Fire Safety Coalition, International Association of Fire Fighters and National Volunteer Fire Council.

In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act became law with provisions from the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act introduced by Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Lautenberg. The provisions aim to address concerns relating to fires in college dormitories and off-campus student housing by requiring schools to report fire safety statistics to the Department of Education and making this information publicly available to students and parents.

Congressman Pascrell introduced the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act in the 106th Congress following Seton Hall University's tragic fire on January 19, 2000, which killed 3 students and injured over 50 others.

On July 24, 2007, Senator Lautenberg led the U.S. Senate in passing the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2007 as part of the Higher Education Act.ty and sorority. Since a high proportion of student fires occur off-campus, schools will be encouraged to use these funds to educate students living both on- and off-campus.

The legislation is endorsed by a number of fire safety and campus organizations, including College and University Housing Officers International, Campus Firewatch, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Fire Marshals Association, Kerry Rose Foundation, Michael H. Minger Foundation, National Association of State Fire Marshals, Ohio Fire Safety Coalition, International Association of Fire Fighters and National Volunteer Fire Council.

In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act became law with provisions from the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act introduced by Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Lautenberg. The provisions aim to address concerns relating to fires in college dormitories and off-campus student housing by requiring schools to report fire safety statistics to the Department of Education and making this information publicly available to students and parents.

Congressman Pascrell introduced the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act in the 106th Congress following Seton Hall University's tragic fire on January 19, 2000, which killed 3 students and injured over 50 others.

On July 24, 2007, Senator Lautenberg led the U.S. Senate in passing the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2007 as part of the Higher Education Act.

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