Representative Carbajal Secures Over $6 Million for Ventura County Projects

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal has announced a significant influx of federal funding for Ventura County. The money was approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 government spending bill.

The funding package includes nearly $6 million dedicated to the annual dredging of the Ventura Harbor. This is a critical project for maintaining safe navigation for both commercial and recreational vessels.

Carbajal emphasized that the dredging is foundational to the local economy. It supports commercial fishing, tourism, and various waterfront businesses that rely on a functional harbor entrance.

In addition to the harbor funds, a $700,000 grant was secured for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. This money will go toward a specialized genetic genealogy testing initiative.

The initiative aims to help detectives solve a backlog of cold cases involving unidentified human remains. It has already seen success in reuniting several families with the remains of their missing loved ones.

In 2024 alone, the program successfully identified four individuals through advanced DNA testing. Carbajal stated that these results are just the beginning of what the program can achieve.

The Representative began pushing for these specific funds in the spring of 2025. He argued that these projects provide a high "federal nexus" and are a wise use of taxpayer dollars.

The spending bill was signed into law on January 23, 2026. Local officials thanked Carbajal for his persistent advocacy in Washington D.C. to ensure these projects remained a priority.