Bill Summary
This resolution designates the month of September 2020 as "Campus Fire Safety Month" in order to bring attention to the issue of campus-related housing fires. It highlights the tragic loss of young lives in various states and the need for fire safety education and prevention. The resolution encourages institutions of higher education and municipalities to provide education on fire safety, evaluate the level of fire safety in on-campus and off-campus student housing, and ensure a fire-safe living environment through the use of fire suppression and detection systems, smoke alarms, and enforcement of fire safety codes. The resolution also recognizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fire safety and the importance of educating young individuals on fire safety for the future.
Possible Impacts
1. Students living in off-campus housing may be required to install smoke alarms and fire suppression systems, potentially increasing the cost of living.
2. College administrators may need to allocate resources towards fire safety education programs and implementing fire safety measures, potentially diverting funds from other areas.
3. The resolution may lead to increased awareness and emphasis on fire safety among college students, potentially reducing the number of fires and related deaths in the future.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 723 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 723
Designating September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety Month''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 24, 2020
Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Carper) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety Month''.
Whereas campus-related housing fires at colleges in Texas, Oregon, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, other States, and Washington, D.C. have tragically cut the
lives of several young individuals short;
Whereas, since January 2000, at least 175 individuals, including students,
parents, and children, have died in campus-related fires;
Whereas approximately 87 percent of those campus-related fire deaths occurred in
off-campus housing;
Whereas a majority of college students in the United States live in off-campus
housing;
Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings in which the
occupants had compromised or deactivated fire safety systems;
Whereas automatic fire alarm systems and smoke alarms provide early warning of a
fire that is necessary for occupants of a building and the fire
department to take appropriate action;
Whereas an automatic fire sprinkler system is a highly effective method of
controlling or extinguishing a fire in its early stages, protecting the
lives of building occupants;
Whereas many college students live in off-campus housing, a fraternity or
sorority house, or a residence hall that is not adequately protected by
an automatic fire sprinkler system, an automatic fire alarm system, or
an adequate smoke alarm;
Whereas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, college students are taking more courses
online and spending more time indoors, thus increasing the need for fire
safety and prevention education;
Whereas fire safety education is an effective method of reducing the occurrence
of fires and the resulting loss of life and property damage;
Whereas college students do not routinely receive effective fire safety
education while in college;
Whereas educating young individuals in the United States about the importance of
fire safety is vital to help ensure that young individuals engage in
fire-safe behavior during college and after college; and
Whereas developing a generation of adults who practice fire safety may
significantly reduce future loss of life: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates September 2020 as ``Campus Fire Safety
Month''; and
(2) encourages administrators of institutions of higher
education and municipalities across the United States--
(A) to provide educational programs about fire
safety to all students of institutions of higher
education in September and throughout the school year;
(B) to evaluate the level of fire safety provided
in both on-campus and off-campus student housing; and
(C) to ensure fire-safe living environments
through--
(i) fire safety education;
(ii) the installation of fire suppression
and detection systems and smoke alarms; and
(iii) the development and enforcement of
applicable codes relating to fire safety.
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