Sponsors (3)
The bill improves public and park visitor sun protection—through guidance, increased on-site access, education, and environmental safeguards—while creating trade-offs in costs, potential funding pressure on park budgets, and limits on product choice that could burden low-income consumers and raise commercialization concerns.
Park visitors (including parents, children, seniors) and the general public would face lower risks of sunburn and long-term skin damage because the bill promotes broad-spectrum SPF≥15 use, shade, and protective clothing.
People who forget or lack sun protection (e.g., families, rural visitors) would have greater access to sunscreen and UPF clothing at parks because the bill encourages stocking these supplies.
Park visitors and the public would gain better knowledge about proper SPF selection, reapplication, and shade use through an NPS awareness/education plan, which can correct misconceptions and improve protective behavior.
Low-income consumers and some park visitors could face higher out-of-pocket costs or fewer product choices if the bill emphasizes non‑nanosized mineral sunscreens that are pricier or less available.
Requiring parks to stock free sunscreen or implementing programs using NPS unobligated funds could impose costs on agencies or divert funding from other park programs and maintenance, affecting taxpayers and park services.
Relying on public-private partnerships to supply sunscreen could introduce commercial influence, branding, or perceived commercialization of park spaces that some visitors may oppose.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires the NPS Director to report within one year on options to provide mineral-based broad-spectrum sunscreen and other sun-protection in national parks, assessing environmental impacts, equity, outreach, and legislative needs.
Official title: To direct the National Park Service to pursue options for the provision of mineral-based, broad-spectrum sunscreen or other protective methods at low or no cost in national parks, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 24, 2026 by Debbie Dingell · Last progress August 24, 2026
Requires the National Park Service Director to produce a report, within one year, describing options to offer mineral-based broad-spectrum sunscreen and other sun-protection methods at low or no cost in national parks. The report must evaluate environmental impacts, equitable usability for all skin tones, outreach plans to increase visitor awareness, and include legislative recommendations for Congress to support expanded sun-protection options. The requirement lists findings about skin cancer risks, sunscreen effectiveness, public misunderstandings about sunscreen use, and existing state-level sunscreen programs. The report must consider partnerships, funding sources, and operational approaches that the Park Service could use to provide sunscreen and sun-protection products to visitors.