Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Will Not Attend Netanyahu Address
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned address to Congress: “I am deeply disappointed that Prime Minister Netanyahu will be addressing Congress tomorrow. A foreign head of government speaking directly to the legislative branch is a distinct honor that should be reserved for revered world leaders. Prime Minister Netanyahu has shown himself to be nothing of the sort. He has shown himself to be a war … Continue Reading
July 21, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on President Biden Withdrawal from 2024 Presidential Race
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection: “History will remember President Biden as a towering figure. A lifelong public servant. A historically successful president. And as a selfless leader who put the greater good of this country above himself. “President Biden’s decision to step aside is a selfless act of patriotism, putting the need to defend democracy ahead of his own personal ambition. It’s … Continue Reading
July 16, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Calls on Senator Menendez to Resign
Ewing, NJ (July 16, 2024) — Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following the conviction of Senator Bob Menendez: Though this is a sad day for New Jersey, I find solace in the fact that justice was done. I commend the jury for their fairness, impartiality, and commitment to upholding the rule of law. It is clear following his conviction that Senator Menendez cannot effectively represent the state of New Jersey in the United States Senate. For the good of our … Continue Reading
July 16, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Sends Letter to ICE, Requests Information on Surprise Princeton Raid
Ewing, NJ (July 16, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sent a letter to Daniel A. Bible, the Executive Associate Director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Newark Field Office. The letter comes after a surprise ICE raid in Princeton, NJ, where unidentified armed federal agents entered the community in unmarked vehicles and reportedly approached Hispanic/Latinx residents and demanded identification as they were going about their day. “As a Member of Congress, I … Continue Reading
July 14, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Condemns Shooting at Trump Campaign Event
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following a shooting at a Trump campaign event on Saturday: “The shooting at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, which injured former President Trump, took the life of an attendee, and injured several others, was a horrific act of violence and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no place for political violence in our democracy. “I’m praying for the victims and for our country. I’m relieved … Continue Reading
July 10, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Reported ICE Raids in Princeton
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding reported raids by federal immigration authorities in Princeton. “I am horrified to learn of the ICE raids carried out in Princeton today, by agents who did not identify themselves, drove into communities, and stopped Hispanic/Latinx residents seemingly at random to interrogate them and demand documentation. “This kind of conduct has absolutely no place in our community or our country. I am working to get … Continue Reading
July 02, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Secures Over $1.2 Million for Mt. Carmel Guild Rehabilitation Project in Trenton
Ewing, NJ (July 2, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced $1,247,000 in federal funds to support the Mount Carmel Guild Rehabilitation project. The Guild provides the Trenton community with food pantry services, home health nursing and the collection and distribution of holiday items during Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The allocated funding will be put towards rehabilitating three buildings that are each over 165 years old, and have housed the Guild for … Continue Reading
July 01, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Presidential Immunity
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in the presidential immunity case: “This is an astonishing and dangerous decision. The Court has granted absolute immunity to presidents for official actions. Additionally, by failing to establish a clear rule for distinguishing between official and unofficial acts, the Court has taken more power for itself in determining when a president can and cannot be held accountable under … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Worker Rights and Support Act
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Worker Rights and Support Act which would require employees be offered a 30-minute meal break for each six hour work period, given a 10-minute break for every four hours worked to use the restroom, and provided 20-minute breaks for medical conditions. Restroom and medical breaks are paid, but meal breaks are not, unless the employee is not fully relieved of their duty during the period of the meal break, in which case they are paid … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Supreme Court Decision Criminalizing Homelessness
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, allowing states to criminalize homelessness. “This decision is inhumane. It punishes people who are struggling simply because they are struggling. “Nobody chooses to be homeless. This decision will only lead to further mass incarceration of people in underserved and overburdened communities. It will do nothing to address the root causes of … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Supreme Court Decision Upending Chevron Deference
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued a statement regarding the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo. The ruling overturns 40 years of established precedent — known as Chevron deference — that allowed nonpartisan civil servants to regulate industries and ensure the goods and services provided to the American public are safe for consumption. Rep. Watson Coleman issued the following statement: “Yet again the Supreme Court’s right-wing extremist majority has … Continue Reading
June 19, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement Commemorating Juneteenth
Washington, D.C. (Wednesday, June 19, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement commemorating Juneteenth: “Today marks 159 years since the news of emancipation finally reached enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 — more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. “The news was delivered by Union soldiers who fought their way to the furthest reaches of the confederacy, bringing with them news of … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Jared Moskowitz Introduce the Capitol Dog Relief Act
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) introduced the Capitol Dog Relief Act. The Capitol Dog Relief Act would require the designation, design and construction of at least one dog relief area on Capitol grounds. “Each day we come to work protected and supported by the many pups of the Capitol,” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. “Whether it’s the K-9s keeping campus safe by sniffing out threats that humans can’t detect, or the office dogs providing a welcome … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement on Supreme Court Mifepristone Ruling
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine: “We should celebrate that the Supreme Court did not take this opportunity today to further restrict access to safe and effective medication abortion. But we are not out of the woods yet. “The Court ruled only that the anti-abortion advocates who brought the case did not have standing to do so. It left open the very likely possibility that … Continue Reading
June 12, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Bill to Reduce Homelessness and Housing Instability Among Young People
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Homes for Young Adults Act. The bill would create a new entitlement under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 — the Housing Choice Voucher program — specifically targeted at young people who are unstably housed or experiencing homelessness. Housing Choice Vouchers are the largest federal housing assistance program, but only one in four eligible Americans actually receive that assistance. The Homes for Young Adults Act … Continue Reading
June 10, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Sends Letter to HUD Encouraging Adoption of New Rule Reducing Barriers to Affordable Housing for Justice-Impacted People
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) led 15 of her House colleagues in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) encouraging the adoption of a proposed rule that would end the practice of rejecting or evicting tenants from public housing, or HUD-subsidized housing, solely on the basis of criminal conviction. According to the Sentencing Project, as many as one in three adults in the United States — up to 100 million Americans — have interacted with the criminal … Continue Reading
June 06, 2024
Reps. Watson Coleman, Kim, Menendez Send Letter to Justice Department Discouraging Support for Private Migrant Prison Contracts
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Andy Kim, and Rob Menendez sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, following up on a previous letter from August of 2023, expressing serious concern over the Department of Justice’s support for the Elizabeth Detention Center, a privately-owned facility contracted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants in Newark. The letter also encourages the Justice Department to refrain from formally supporting a separate ICE contract … Continue Reading
June 06, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement Regarding Updated Travel Schedule for June 2024
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding an update to her travel schedule: “Last Friday I began experiencing pain in my lower back. I consulted with my doctor, who determined the pain was due to lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition in which the space between one’s spine and spinal nerves tightens, creating pressure and causing discomfort. “Yesterday, I met with a specialist who determined the best course of action is an operative procedure. I am … Continue Reading
June 03, 2024
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman Introduce Fully Funded Federal Jobs Guarantee Program
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) introduced the Workforce Promotion and Access (WPA) Act. The WPA Act would establish a fully-funded federal jobs program, targeted to support communities with exceptionally high unemployment rates. The program would be fully paid for by a 0.1% tax on Wall Street stock trades. The jobs encompass a wide range of important community services, including infrastructure, child care, elder care, and health … Continue Reading
May 31, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement in Support of Permanent Ceasefire Plan Laid Out by President Biden
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the pathway to a permanent ceasefire laid out by President Biden this afternoon: “I strongly support the pathway to a permanent ceasefire laid out by President Biden this afternoon. It is reasonable, it is tenable, it is necessary for lasting peace to take hold. Crucially, it sets the foundation for rebuilding Gaza — an issue I have been raising since the early days of this conflict, when I first called for a … Continue Reading