September 9. 2008
WASHINGTON— U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today joined with U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC-06), Rep. Joes Wilson (R-SC-02), Ed Comeau, the publisher of Campus Firewatch, Shawn Simons, a survivor of the tragic Seton Hall fire and others to launch the 2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month.
“I am honored to be here to launch Campus Fire Safety Month and to celebrate this year’s legislative successes,” stated Pascrell. “It has been a long road, but well worth it if our work helps to prevent even one fire on our college campuses. Educating students about fire safety during their time in school will have a strong impact on the choices they make in the future. If we can influence what they learn, we can create a more fire-safe generation for tomorrow.”
National Campus Fire Safety month comes on the heels of the recent passage and signing of The Higher Education Opportunity Act, which contains provisions from the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act introduced by Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Lautenberg. The provisions aim to address concerns relating to recent fires in college dormitories and off-campus student housing by requiring schools to report fire safety information to the Department of Education and making this information publicly available to students and parents.
In addition to writing the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act, Rep. Pascrell and the late Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Ohio, who died suddenly on August 20, co-sponsored the legislation to designate September National Campus Fire Safety Month.
“Congresswomen Tubbs Jones’ commitment and passion for the safety of young people will be missed,” said Ed Comeau, publisher of Campus Firewatch.
Pascrell added, “It is because of my friend and colleague Stephanie Tubbs Jones that we are standing here today. Her work on campus fire safety will leave an indelible mark on education policy in this nation, and safer college campuses are only one part of her enduring legacy. Congresswoman Tubbs Jones’ untimely passing has deprived Americans of one of our most consistent voices for justice, equality, and peace, and my thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”
