Fire Island AIDS Memorial Establishment Act
This bill would authorize the Pines Foundation, a private, tax-exempt group linked to the Fire Island Pines Property Owners’ Association, to establish and maintain the Fire Island AIDS Memorial within Fire Island National Seashore. The Memorial would honor residents of Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove who died of AIDS and would be used to educate current and future generations about the AIDS epidemic and its impact on these communities. The design, location, and ongoing maintenance of the Memorial would require approval by the Secretary of the Interior, and no federal funds may be used for its design, procurement, installation, or maintenance. The Foundation would establish and manage the Memorial in accordance with terms and conditions set by the Secretary. In short, the bill creates a path for a privately funded memorial on federal land, with federal oversight over its placement and appearance, but no federal funding for the project.
Key Points
- 1Authorization to establish: The Pines Foundation may establish and maintain the Fire Island AIDS Memorial within Fire Island National Seashore, subject to Secretary approval.
- 2Memorial purpose: To honor residents of Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove who died of AIDS and to educate the public about the AIDS epidemic and its impact on these communities.
- 3Private funding required: Federal funds cannot be used to design, procure, install, or maintain the Memorial; funding must come from private sources.
- 4Secretary’s role: The design and location must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, who can impose terms and conditions.
- 5Definitions and scope: The bill defines the Foundation, the Memorial, and the Secretary, and places the Memorial within the jurisdiction of Fire Island National Seashore.