April 1, 2025
Mr. Garbarino introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To authorize the Pines Foundation to establish the Fire Island AIDS Memorial, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fire Island AIDS Memorial Act
.
Sec. 2. Purposes
The purposes of the Act are—
(1)
to honor and remember the many residents of Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, New York, who suffered and died from the AIDS epidemic; and
(2)
to educate future generations about the AIDS epidemic and the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the Fire Island communities in the State of New York.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Director
The term Director means the Director of the National Park Service.
(2) Foundation
The term Foundation means the Pines Foundation.
(3) Memorial
The term Memorial means the Fire Island AIDS Memorial authorized to be established under section 4(a).
Sec. 4. Fire Island AIDS Memorial
(a) Authorization To establish memorial
The Foundation may establish and maintain a memorial at Fire Island National Seashore to honor the residents of Fire Island who died of AIDS, to be known as the Fire Island AIDS Memorial
.
(b) Use of Federal funds prohibited
(1) In general
Federal funds may not be used to design, procure, prepare, install, or maintain the Memorial.
(2) Non-Federal funds
The Director may accept and expend contributions of non-Federal funds and resources for the purposes described in paragraph (1).
(c) Location of Memorial
The Director may allow the Memorial to be established in the area of the Fire Island National Seashore located along the walkway between the Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove and adjacent to the Carrington House.
(d) Design of Memorial
The final design of the Memorial shall be subject to the approval of the Director.