Madam Speaker,

I rise today to introduce the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, which will create expedited tax incentives for property owners to install automatic fire sprinkler systems. 

Four years ago tragedy struck Rhode Island when a fire tore through the Station nightclub in West Warwick.  That fire, which killed 100 people and injured 200 more, could have been prevented if fire sprinklers had been installed throughout the building.  We all learned a very hard lesson on the importance of installing fire protection equipment – in our homes, our workplaces, our schools and recreational buildings.  But with a renewed focus on installing fire sprinklers and other safety devices, we truly can prevent a tragedy like the one in West Warwick from ever occurring again.

The legislation I am introducing today will amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide an incentive to business owners for retrofitting existing buildings with life-saving sprinklers.  Specifically, this legislation will reduce the tax depreciation time for retrofitting sprinklers in nonresidential real property from 39 years to only five.

Since January of this year 157 have died nationwide in fires where three or more people were killed, with over 50 percent of the fatalities being children.  This is simply an unacceptable reality that could easily be changed with the installation of simple, life-saving technology.  The National Fire Protection Association has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a public assembly, educational, institutional or residential building with a complete and fully operational automatic fire sprinkler system. 

Unfortunately, due to the high cost of installing these safety measures, property owners have faced tremendous financial burdens when considering the addition of sprinkler systems.  Some states, including my home state of Rhode Island, have passed stricter fire codes requiring the installation of more sprinklers and alarms.  While I applaud these efforts, the unfortunate reality is that many business owners simply cannot afford to comply.  That is why my legislation is designed to provide a meaningful financial incentive for property owners, reducing any cost burdens they may incur, while significantly improving public safety throughout our country.

The need for enhanced fire safety incentives is certainly not new.  In fact, similar legislation was introduced in both the 108^th and 109^th Congresses, where it garnered over 140 cosponsors each time.  Together, we can make a tremendous impact by providing a financial incentive to install sprinklers in every office, restaurant, and nightclub in the country.  It is my strong hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting and quickly passing this important measure, before tragedy strikes another community.