I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7168 
To direct the Secretary of Education to develop standards for fire suppression 
systems in dormitories and other residential facilities for students on 
the campuses of institutions of higher education that receive Federal 
education funding, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 21, 2026 
Mr. KEAN (for himself and Mr. GOTTHEIMER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Education to develop standards 
for fire suppression systems in dormitories and other 
residential facilities for students on the campuses of in-
stitutions of higher education that receive Federal edu-
cation funding, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Seton Hall Fire Vic-
tims Remembrance Act of 2026’’. 
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SEC. 2. FIRE SUPPRESSION STANDARDS AT INSTITUTIONS 
OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 
(a) FIRE SUPPRESSION STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Di-
rector of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and other relevant subject matter ex-
perts (as determined by the Secretary and the Direc-
tor of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology), shall develop and finalize standards for fire 
suppression systems in dormitories and other resi-
dential facilities for students on the campus of a 
covered institution (which shall include a timeline 
for phasing in such standards and the threshold of 
compliance to be met by the covered institution to 
receive a designation). The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, shall update these stand-
ards every 10 years. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS; TECHNICAL
ASSIST-
ANCE.—Not later than three years after the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, shall— 
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(A) submit to Congress recommendations 
with respect to ensuring maximum compliance 
of covered institutions with the standards final-
ized under paragraph (1); and 
(B) provide technical assistance to covered 
institutions with respect to complying with such 
standards. 
(b) INSTITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than one 
year after the finalization of standards under 
subsection (a)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, 
a covered institution shall carry out an assess-
ment of compliance with such standards and 
submit an accurate assessment to the Sec-
retary. The accuracy of the assessment shall be 
determined by an expert in fire suppression sys-
tems, as defined by the Secretary in consulta-
tion with the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology. Upon submission 
of the assessment of compliance, the covered in-
stitution certifies the accuracy of the assess-
ment. 
(B) DETERMINATION.—Not later than six 
months after receiving an assessment from a 
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covered institution under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall make a designation with respect 
to the degree of compliance of each dormitory 
and residential facility. 
(C) DESIGNATION.— 
(i) If the Secretary determines a cov-
ered institution is in compliance with the 
standards 
finalized 
under 
subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary shall designate the in-
stitution as a ‘‘Federally Recognized Fire- 
Safe Campus’’. 
(ii) If the Secretary determines a cov-
ered institution is not in compliance with 
the standards finalized under subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary shall designate the in-
stitution as a ‘‘Not Federally Recognized 
Fire-Safe Campus’’. 
(D) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall 
make the assessments submitted under sub-
paragraph (A) and the degree of compliance de-
termined under subparagraph (B) publicly 
available on a website of the Department of 
Education in a form that is easily accessible 
and understandable. 
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(2) PROGRAM
PARTICIPATION
AGREEMENT.— 
Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(30) The institution will comply with the re-
quirements of the Seton Hall Fire Victims Remem-
brance Act of 2026.’’. 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed as to eliminate the ability of 
covered institutions designated under subparagraph 
(D)(ii) to participate in programs authorized under 
subchapter IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
only because the covered institution was designated 
under subparagraph (D)(ii). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPLICABLE PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘appli-
cable program’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 400(c) of the General Education Provisions 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1221(c)). 
(2) COVERED
INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered institution’’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation that receives funds under an applicable pro-
gram. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
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meaning given such term in section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
Æ 
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