03/29/2007 - (Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today reintroduced his Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2007, which creates tax incentives for property owners to retrofit buildings with automatic fire sprinkler systems. Similar legislation was first introduced in the 108th Congress.

“With the support of the country's major fire protection organizations, I will be urging my colleagues to support this critical and life-saving legislation,” said Langevin, who is a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “The benefits of this bill are twofold. First and foremost it will help save lives. Secondly, it will create tax incentives for a business to install these systems.”

This legislation would reduce the tax depreciation time on nonresidential real property from 39 years to only 5 for those that install sprinklers. Benefits of this legislation also include lower local fire department costs, increased loan activity, reduced insurance claims and premium costs and increased retrofitting and installation jobs.

“I am hopeful that this legislation will move swiftly,” continued Langevin. “As we learned this week, Rhode Island businesses want to do the right thing to keep people safe but installing these systems is a costly proposition.”

This bill, HR 1742, is companion legislation to Senate Bill 582, introduced February 14, 2007 by Senators Smith, Rockefeller, Reed and Alexander.

For more information on this legislation, go to http://www.firesprinkler.org/legislation/index.html

Contact:

Marlene Garrett
Director of Education
214-349-5965
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