The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute charged with educating Members of Congress on fire and life safety issues.

On Thursday, March 30th, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act, H.R. 609, which reauthorizes programs under the Higher Education Act. Included in the legislation was a provision authored by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ), the "Campus Fire Safety Right to Know" Act.

Congressman Pascrell had initially introduced the legislation as a stand-alone bill in the House, H.R. 2637. However, through the efforts of Congressman Rob Andrews (NJ), Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (NY), and Congressman Jim Wilson (SC), the legislation was included as part of H.R. 609 when the Education and Workforce Committee considered the legislation last year.

The Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act amends the Higher Education Act to require colleges and universities to provide prospective and current students fire safety information on campuses. The legislation also authorizes a report from the Secretary of Education to Congress on the extent of the nation's campus fire safety problem and possible solutions. The legislation will utilize the same procedures schools use to compile and disclose crime statistics and other safety information.

Congressman Pascrell first introduced the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act in the 106th Congress, in the wake of Seton Hall University's tragic fire on January 19, 2000, which killed 3 students and injured over 50 others. Some highlights of the legislation include the following:

• Requires dissemination of information on each on-campus residence hall, including fraternities and sororities on and off campus, and whether the residence is equipped with fire sprinklers or other fire safety systems such as fire alarms or smoke detectors;
• Provides statistics on the number of actual fires in each residence hall, including information on deaths, injuries, and structural damage over the previous two years; and information about fire safety education and training provided to students, faculty, and staff and any planned improvements in fire safety;
• Directs the Secretary of Education to report back to Congress on the current status of fires safety systems on college campuses throughout the country.

"CFSI applauds Congressman Pascrell, as well as Congressman Andrews, Congresswoman McCarthy, and Congressman Wilson, for their commitment to improve campus safety," remarked Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. "This landmark legislation will provide critical information to prospective students and their parents regarding the level of fire safety at colleges and universities across the nation."

H.R. 609 will now go before the Senate for consideration.

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