NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Padilla Help Deliver $26 Million in Federal Funding for San Luis Rey Flood Control Project, Part of More than $250 Million Secured for California

Schiff and Padilla secure federal funding to support Oceanside's flood mitigation efforts, to protect residents, businesses, and infrastructure

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) announced that they have secured $26 million in federal funding for the San Luis Rey River Project in Oceanside, California. The new federal investment will increase flood protection for the Oceanside community by repairing the San Luis Rey River levee system and removing sediment and sand in the river channel. This funding is part of the $254,457,366 in total Congressionally Directed Spending funding that Schiff delivered for California for the 2026 fiscal year, with the passage of recent funding bills.

"I'm proud to deliver federal investments that will go directly towards making critical flood protection improvements in Oceanside," said Senator Adam Schiff. "For decades, the Oceanside community has been at the mercy of aging flood protection systems that threaten residents, the local economy, and infrastructure in the region. These federal dollars will underwrite work toward mitigating those flood risks. I'm proud to have joined my colleagues Senator Padilla and Representative Levin, as well as local leaders, in this effort to secure this major investment in Southern California."

"Oceanside residents depend on the San Luis Rey River project to protect their homes, schools, and businesses from devastating flooding," said Senator Alex Padilla. "After years of project delays, this surge in bipartisan federal funding Senator Schiff and I fought for will make critical levee repairs and remove dangerous sediment buildup to mitigate flood risk for vulnerable Oceanside communities."

"For too long, Oceanside's flood protection system has been unable to adequately protect residents, businesses, and infrastructure," said Rep. Mike Levin. "This funding will start to make much needed improvements. It will begin the work to upgrade the system, fix the levees, and provide much needed flood protection that will mitigate risk to nearby residents. I look forward to this funding coming to our community and making a real difference."

"On behalf of the City of Oceanside, I wholeheartedly thank Senators Schiff and Padilla for including $26M in critical funding for the San Luis Rey River Flood Control Project in the appropriations bill," said Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez. "This long-overdue investment will finally allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward in completing the project, including strengthening levees, removing sediment that can be used toward sand replenishment on our starved beaches, and restore reliable flood and fire protection for our residents and businesses. Senators Schiff and Padilla's exceptional leadership is delivering results for Oceanside's safety and resilience."

The San Luis Rey River Project Flood Risk Reduction Project was originally authorized in 1970 to provide a 250-year level of flood protection. Delays in construction over decades have caused the projects costs to increase, leading to a dip in flood protection to a 70-year level, slipping far below the 250-year level of protection envisioned in the project authorization. Funding for this project will directly go toward geotechnical investigations, levee repairs, and sediment removal to reduce the risk of flooding for the Oceanside community.

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