Rutherford, Watson Coleman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Install Sprinkler Systems in Older Public Housing Units

Press Release

Today, Representatives John Rutherford (FL-4) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced bipartisan legislation to help public housing authorities equip their older units with sprinkler systems to improve the safety of residents and local communities. The Public Housing Fire Safety Act would create a program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide grants to public housing authorities that wish to retrofit older high-rise apartments. Additionally, it would collect data on the status of sprinkler installations and submit a report to Congress on the presence of automatic sprinkler systems in public housing, with recommendations to improve fire safety.

"A public housing building without proper fire safeguards is a tragedy waiting to happen," said Rutherford. "In recent years, fires have claimed the lives of those living in public housing without installed or up-to-date sprinkler systems. Many of these deaths were preventable. Today's legislation will save both property and lives."

"Sprinkler systems have been shown to be one of the most effective ways to prevent widespread damage and loss of life in the event of a fire," said Watson Coleman. "As this country commits to rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, ensuring our citizens living in public housing have the most basic fire safety measures should be a priority. The added benefit that it will help save the lives of our nation's bravest makes this a no-brainer."

Thousands of public housing apartment buildings around the country were built before the Federal Fire Safety Act of 1992 when fire sprinklers were required in all new government-owned buildings, leaving over two million Americans living in public housing at risk. Some cities are particularly at risk due to their older housing stock. For example, 296 out of 316 New York City Housing Authority developments are at least 30 years old. Public housing authorities regularly work with limited budgets and without the resources to update and improve fire safety.

"Public housing is critical to ensuring people with the greatest needs have a safe, decent, affordable, and accessible place to call home," stated Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "The Public Housing Safety Act will help protect public housing residents from the dangers of fire and smoke inhalation, and Congress should include the bill in its American Jobs Plan as part of a comprehensive plan to fully repair public housing and to preserve and build more homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes."

Modern sprinkler systems respond to fires before they spread through a building, saving lives, aiding first responders, and reducing property damage. A recent Study shows an 81 percent lower death rate in homes with sprinklers and a 79 percent reduction in firefighter injuries.

"Over the past decade, we've seen the number of civilian fire deaths steadily increase." Said Edward A. Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters. "Fire fighters know fire sprinklers save lives, so we fully support the Public Housing Fire Safety Act to fund the installation of fire sprinklers in communities across the country. I thank Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman for introducing this important legislation, which will help protect the safety of both the public and fire fighters."

"The International Association of Fire Chiefs thanks Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. John Rutherford for their leadership in protecting residents of public housing from the dangers of fire," said Fire Chief Ken Stuebing, IAFC Acting President and Chairman of the Board. "The government owes it to public housing residents to ensure that their homes are safe and given every possible measure of fire protection. Retrofitting these homes with fire sprinkler systems is a very effective way to protect these residents and their properties. The IAFC is pleased to support the Public Housing Fire Safety Act which is a proactive means of bolstering the safety of these homes. The IAFC urges Congress pass this legislation as soon as possible and protect these residents from the dangers of fire."

The Public Housing Fire Safety Act has been endorsed by:

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
National Fire Sprinkler Association
Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA)
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
Minnesota NAHRO
National Low Income Housing Coalition
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
National Housing Law Project
Congressional Fire Services Institute
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA)
A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

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