Fire Island AIDS Memorial Act

Summary#

This bill lets the Pines Foundation set up and keep a memorial called the Fire Island AIDS Memorial inside the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore. The memorial is meant to honor residents of Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove who died of AIDS and to teach future generations about the epidemic's impact on those communities. The memorial's design and location must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior. The bill also says federal funds cannot be used to design, buy, prepare, install, or maintain the memorial. The Pines Foundation is defined in the bill as a tax-exempt group affiliated with the Fire Island Pines Property Owners' Association. The bill was introduced on April 2, 2025, by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

What it means for you#

• A private group (the Pines Foundation) may build and run a memorial inside Fire Island National Seashore if the Interior Department approves the design and location.
• Visitors and community members may see a memorial honoring people from Fire Island who died of AIDS, if the project moves forward.
• The federal government will not pay for the memorial's design, purchase, installation, or upkeep.

Expenses#

• The bill explicitly bars use of federal funds to design, procure, prepare, install, or maintain the memorial.
• No publicly available information on expected total costs, who will pay, or long-term maintenance funds outside of the federal prohibition.

Proponents' View#

Proponents say the memorial will honor Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove residents who died of AIDS and will help educate future generations about the epidemic's local impact.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.