H.R. 7168

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7168 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7168

To direct the Secretary of Education to develop standards for fire 
suppression systems in dormitories and other residential facilities for 
students on the campuses of institutions of higher education that 
receive Federal education funding, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 21, 2026

Mr. Kean (for himself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Education to develop standards for fire 
suppression systems in dormitories and other residential facilities for 
students on the campuses of institutions of higher education that 
receive Federal education funding, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Seton Hall Fire Victims Remembrance 
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FIRE SUPPRESSION STANDARDS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

(a) Fire Suppression Standards.--
(1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Education, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology and other relevant subject matter 
experts (as determined by the Secretary and the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology), shall develop 
and finalize standards for fire suppression systems in 
dormitories and other residential facilities for students on 
the campus of a covered institution (which shall include a 
timeline for phasing in such standards and the threshold of 
compliance to be met by the covered institution to receive a 
designation). The Secretary, in consultation with the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall 
update these standards every 10 years.
(2) Recommendations; technical assistance.--Not later than 
three years after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, shall--
(A) submit to Congress recommendations with respect 
to ensuring maximum compliance of covered institutions 
with the standards finalized under paragraph (1); and
(B) provide technical assistance to covered 
institutions with respect to complying with such 
standards.
(b) Institutional Compliance.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Assessment.--Not later than one year after the 
finalization of standards under subsection (a)(1), and 
every 5 years thereafter, a covered institution shall 
carry out an assessment of compliance with such 
standards and submit an accurate assessment to the 
Secretary. The accuracy of the assessment shall be 
determined by an expert in fire suppression systems, as 
defined by the Secretary in consultation with the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. Upon submission of the assessment of 
compliance, the covered institution certifies the 
accuracy of the assessment.
(B) Determination.--Not later than six months after 
receiving an assessment from a covered institution 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make a 
designation with respect to the degree of compliance of 
each dormitory and residential facility.
(C) Designation.--
(i) If the Secretary determines a covered 
institution is in compliance with the standards 
finalized under subsection (a)(1), the 
Secretary shall designate the institution as a 
``Federally Recognized Fire-Safe Campus''.
(ii) If the Secretary determines a covered 
institution is not in compliance with the 
standards finalized under subsection (a)(1), 
the Secretary shall designate the institution 
as a ``Not Federally Recognized Fire-Safe 
Campus''.
(D) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the 
assessments submitted under subparagraph (A) and the 
degree of compliance determined under subparagraph (B) 
publicly available on a website of the Department of 
Education in a form that is easily accessible and 
understandable.
(2) Program participation agreement.--Section 487(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(30) The institution will comply with the requirements of 
the Seton Hall Fire Victims Remembrance Act of 2026.''.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to eliminate the ability of covered institutions 
designated under subparagraph (D)(ii) to participate in 
programs authorized under subchapter IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 only because the covered institution was designated 
under subparagraph (D)(ii).
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Applicable program.--The term ``applicable program'' 
has the meaning given such term in section 400(c) of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221(c)).
(2) Covered institution.--The term ``covered institution'' 
means an institution of higher education that receives funds 
under an applicable program.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1002).
<all>