A resolution designating September 2020 as "Campus Fire Safety Month".

Bill: 116-sres-723
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2020-09-24
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Building construction

Commemorative events and holidays

Educational facilities and institutions

Fires

Higher education

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-24
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5881; text: CR S5877-5878)

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates September 2020 as Campus Fire Safety Month. </p> <div></div>

action_date: 2020-09-24
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates September 2020 as Campus Fire Safety Month. </p> <div></div>

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 723 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

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.