Just over a week ago on Feb. 7, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Higher Education Act with a vote of 354-58, and that movement on this bill could be very positive for the security and fire safety industry
The act included language picked up from H.R. 1409, better known as the College Life Safety and Fire Prevention Act that had been initially introduced by Representative Vito Fossella (R-New York).
That language that was picked up included the proposal to create an incentive program within the U.S. Department of Education that would promote the installation of fire detection and fire alarm systems within student housing and other university buildings.
The initial bill has seen many revisions and draft House bills, some of which have died in the Senate. That language that was picked up from HR 1409 received input from the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), and specified fire detection in addition to language that proposed fire suppression.
NBFAA President George Gunning called the passage of the Higher Education Act "a major victory in our efforts to have an impact on the safety of students and others who live and work in colleges and universities."
The NBFAA is encouraging industry professionals who wish to help support the Act contact NBFAA lobbyist John Chwat at [email protected].
