H.R. 2156, the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), unanimously passed the U.S. House on Tuesday and next moves to the Senate.
“Receiving full bipartisan support from my House colleagues is a true honor to the constituents of the 25th district,” Knight said in a statement. “Our community suffered a great loss after the Saint Francis Dam disaster and this legislation will finally commemorate the tragedy with the respect it deserves.”
H.R. 2156, the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act, would create a national memorial at the site of the 1928 St. Francis Dam Disaster in the San Francisquito Canyon, which claimed the lives of 431 people. The memorial would be funded by private donations to an independent foundation, the Saint Francis Dam Disaster Memorial Foundation, and establish a 440 acre national monument encompassing the designated national memorial area that was devastated in the resulting flood.
“H.R 2156 will secure a beautiful memorial site for those lives lost and greatly affected by a devastating failure in our civil engineering history,” said Rep. Knight. “Santa Clarita Valley has never forgotten this tragedy and recognition, on a national scale, is greatly appreciated. Families of those lost will know their loved one is not forgotten.”
The legislation is similar to a measure authored by Knight and co-sponsored by Rep Julia Brownley (CA-26) last Congress, which also passed the House of Representatives with unanimous support. House Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed H.R. 2156 last month. Many local leaders, including the Santa Clarita City Council have publicly expressed support for Knight’s bill and look forward to further actions in the Senate.
“This request for a memorial has been an ongoing effort for years and I look forward to future movement of this bill in the Senate as it serves as a great tribute to the devastation of the Saint Francis Dam disaster,” said Rep. Knight.
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Representative Steve Knight, (R-Antelope Valley), represents California’s 25th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, which includes the communities throughout the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Simi Valleys.
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6 Comments
I wish my mother was still alive to follow this. Her father perished in this tragic event. Due to other tragedies during her infancy and young childhood she was always sheltered from what knowledge did exist at the time. She was in her sixties when I took her to the site – her only experience of it. A National Memorial will be wonderful!
Long over due!!!
Is the DWP helping out?
They’re not opposed, and they have been helpful with historic materials.
The way I read the map about half of the 440 acres, of Angeles Nation Forest, will be the area where the reservoir was.Am I reading it wrong and if not, why is it needed?
Where are you seeing the map?