Congresswoman Simon Secures Over $4 MILLION in Federal Funding for the East Bay

OAKLAND, CA -Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) is excited to announce that she has successfully secured over $4 million in federal funding for 4 community projects in California's 12^thCongressional District through the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding Grant process.

The federal funding will support a variety of efforts to improve public safety in Oakland, including over $1 million for Operation Ceasefire, which will enhance the capacity of the City of Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention, and over $1 million for public safety equipment at Northeastern University Oakland. Congresswoman Simon also secured over $1 million in federal funding for the establishment of a groundbreaking pediatric blood disorder research center at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland and over $1 million for the purchase of research equipment for Samuel Merritt University's new campus in Downtown Oakland.

Of the initial funding announcement Congresswoman Simon said:

"I am incredibly excited to announce that I have secured $4 million to fund four great community projects in our district. From the City of Oakland's lifesaving Operation Ceasefire to a next-generation cancer facility at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital -- this funding will make tangible and real differences for people in our district now and for generations to come. In my first year in Congress, I have been consistently focused on delivering back money and results for the East Bay; this funding is a real win for our district, and I look forward to announcing more community project funding once the Senate finishes taking up the remaining FY2026 appropriations bills."

Former Congresswoman, now Mayor of Oakland Barbara Lee previously championed appropriations requests for Operation Ceasefire in Congress. Of Congresswoman Simon's funding announcement, she said:

"Congratulations to Congresswoman Lateefah Simon on securing over $4 million for our congressional district in her first year in Congress. I also want to thank her for resubmitting several of the community projects I previously submitted under the Biden-Harris Administration - we are deeply grateful for her support. Congresswoman Simon continues to be instrumental in keeping Oakland on the move."

Each fiscal year, members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for consideration with the House Committee on Appropriations. In her first year in Congress, Congresswoman Simon submitted 15 CPF requests for projects across the East Bay. Today, on January 23, 2026, the first group of requests was funded and signed into law via the H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026.

The full list of projects signed into law today can be found below:

• $1,031,00000 for Samuel Merritt University, Oakland City Center's Campus - This funding will be used to purchase research equipment for Samuel Merritt University's new campus in Downtown Oakland.
• $1,031,000.000 for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Pediatric Blood Disorder Research Center - This funding will be used for a groundbreaking pediatric blood disorder research center at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. This innovative research center will house investigators dedicated to translating basic research into innovative, curative therapies that would directly benefit our patients and children across the world suffering from blood conditions, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, leukemia, and bone marrow failure.
• $1,039,000.000 for the City of Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention Enhancements (Operation Ceasefire) - This funding will be used to enhance the capacity of the City of Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention to deliver intensive life coaching and violence interruption services for individuals who are most likely to be victims or perpetrators of gun violence in the next 90 days. This project will directly support a reduction in violent crime and recidivism.
• $1,031,000.000 for Northeastern University Oakland - This funding will be used to make public safety security enhancements at Northeastern University's 135-acre campus in Oakland and surrounding neighborhood. The enhancements will benefit not only students and faculty, but non-Northeastern affiliated members of the Oakland community who use the grounds, walking trails, and athletic facilities.

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