The Congressional bill that would establish the site of the St. Francis Dam Disaster as a memorial has garnered the support of District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
Under the bill, which was introduced by Congressman Steve Knight (R-Palmdale), the 440-acre memorial would recognize the 431 lives lost in the 1928 St. Francis Dam Disaster in San Francisquito Canyon.
“It is time we honor those who lost their lives, were injured or dislocated by designating and protecting this historic site,” Barger’s motion reads.
Barger’s motion, which will be discussed at the Aug. 22 Board of Supervisors meeting, proposed the board send a five-signature letter to the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation in support of the bill.
Currently, the site of the disaster is registered as a California Historical Landmark, Barger cites in the motion, but there has not been any recognition of the disaster from Los Angeles County.
“I am greatly humbled by the local support my bill, the St. Francis Dam Memorial Act, has received from our local community,” Knight said. “Having the support of our neighbors and local leaders will bring attention to the necessity of this memorial.”
The House of Representatives has approved the bill, which must now be approved by the Senate.
If the bill is passed, the memorial will be funded by private donations.
This is the second time the House of Representatives has approved the bill, as the legislative session closed before it could go to the Senate last year.
