Supporting Campus Fire Safety Month

Floor Speech

* Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 167, a resolution that supports the goals and ideals of recognizing September as Campus Fire Safety Month. This recognition would both heighten awareness and encourage improvements in the overall safety on our college and university campuses.

* Since January 2000, 129 people including students, parents, and children, have died in student housing fires, many of which were preventable. Currently a majority of college students live off campus, and eighty percent of these deaths have occurred in off campus housing. One recent example is more personal for me. Over the 2008 Christmas break, there was a suspected arson at the Sigma Nu fraternity house at Texas A&M University. Thankfully, no one was residing in the house at that time, but as a Sigma Nu from my days at Georgia Tech, my prayers continue to be with the chapter in Texas for the rebuilding of their residence.

* Nationally, more needs to be done to improve campus-wide fire safety awareness programs so as to prevent the loss of life and property damage on college and university campuses. Many of these fatal fires have occurred in buildings where the fire safety systems have been compromised, are obsolete, or have been disabled by occupants. College administrations must continue to make students aware of the need for automatic fire alarm systems and the safety they provide to occupants and local fire departments.

* Madam Speaker, fire safety education is imperative on college and university campuses across the nation. This resolution encourages administrators and municipalities to evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in both on- and off-campus student housing. It further calls upon them 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. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution so that we can protect future generations of our nation's leaders from the devastating and potentially life threatening effects of campus fires.

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