Klobuchar Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Fire Accidents

Klobuchar discussed her bill to Prevent Fire Accidents with Not Your Turn to Burn

Klobuchar discussed her bill to Prevent Fire Accidents with Not Your Turn To Burn (NYTTB). Pictured: Margrett Lewis- California Burn Survivor Mom. Exec Dir. NYTTB, Trey Small- Firefighter and EMT- Delaware. Ambassador NYTTB, Chris Gibbs- ER Trauma Nurse and Educator Maryland- Ambassador NYTTB, and Jaeger Stander- Denver, CO. Chief of Staff- NYTTB

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security introduced the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act, a bill that directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to put forth a standard requiring Flame Mitigation Devices (FMD) like flame arrestors to be used to prevent fire accidents. The companion legislation in the House of Representatives was led by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Dave Joyce (R-OH).

“Keeping Americans safe means a commitment to consumer protection—consumers deserve products that meet strong health and safety standards,” Klobuchar said. “Our commonsense legislation will improve safety codes so no tragic, accidental fires take another life.”

Under current standards, flammable or combustible liquids can ignite within their containers causing more than 160,000 fires, injuring nearly 4,000 people, and killing 454 each year. Flame arrestors can help prevent these types of accidents, but currently there is no requirement for them to be used for the consumer containers found in most homes and for everyday use. The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act would establish safety standards to help prevent these tragic accidents.

The legislation is endorsed by the American Burn Association, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Association of State Fire Marshalls and the National Fire Protection Association.

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