Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Full Federal Funding for Green Brook Sub Basin Flood Control Project
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 17, 2023) — Following confirmation that the Green Brook Sub Basin Flood Control Project will be fully funded by the federal government, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued this statement: “I am excited to announce that the Green Brook Sub Basin Flood Control Project will be 100 percent federally funded. Given state and municipal governments’ comparatively small budgets, it’s the U.S. government’s duty … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on the Passing of State Senator Ronald L. Rice
EWING, N.J. (March 15, 2023) — Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement on the passing of former New Jersey State Senator Ron Rice: “I am heartbroken to hear of Ron’s passing. New Jersey has lost a consummate public servant, and I have lost a dear friend. “Senator Rice exemplified everything a public servant should be. From his service in the Marines to his 36 years in the state legislature, his … Continue Reading
March 13, 2023
Congresswoman Watson Coleman Announces the Departure of Faith-Based Policy Advisor Lukata Mjumbe
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced the departure of her office’s Faith-Based Policy Advisor Reverend Lukata Mjumbe. Reverend Mjumbe who recently transitioned from his leadership as Pastor of the historic Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church of Princeton, New Jersey has accepted an appointment as the new Executive Director of the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium based in Birmingham, Alabama. The Consortium promotes the legacy of the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Watson Coleman, Payne, Jr. Reintroduce Resolution to Recognize the Impact of Colorectal Cancer on the Black Community
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) introduced a resolution acknowledging the horrific impact colorectal cancer has on the Black community and that the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force needs to reduce the age of screening for this cancer. Colorectal Cancer, or CRC, is the third most common cancer in the United States for men and women combined, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death. On average, CRC takes more than … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Response to Reports of U.S. Reinstating Migrant Family Detention
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2023) — Amid reports that the Biden Administration is considering reinstating migrant family detention, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement: “The Trump-era policy of family detention was a stain on our past. It has no place in our future. "Regardless of which party controls the White House, most Americans agree that locking families in cages is inhumane, immoral, and ultimately ineffective. We … Continue Reading
February 24, 2023
Menendez, Booker, Watson Coleman Lead NJ Delegation in Announcing $35M in LIHEAP Additional Funding to Assist NJ Families with Heating Expenses
U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today were joined by members of the NJ Congressional Delegation including U.S. House Representatives Donald Norcross (D-N.J.-01), Andy Kim (D-N.J.-03), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-05), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.-06), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.-08), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.-09), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.-10), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.-11), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12) in announcing a total of $35,196,880 in additional federal funding … Continue Reading
February 10, 2023
Sen. Menendez, Rep. Watson Coleman Join with Middlesex County & Monroe Township Officials to Announce $1.1 Million for Flood Mitigation Planning
MONROE, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-.N.J.-12) joined today with representatives of Middlesex County and Monroe Township to announce more than $1 million in federal funding for flood mitigation planning in the county. In recent years, the area has suffered repeated damage to homes and businesses from tropical storms. [CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL VIDEO] “Central Jersey has long suffered … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Celebrates Black History Month, Passage of Legislation to Honor Black Revolutionary War Heroes
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 9, 2023) – In observing Black History Month, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) celebrated the passage of her National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act. The Congresswoman’s bill was included in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus funding package that President Biden signed in December. The National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act authorizes construction of the National Liberty Memorial, a monument to honor … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Black History Matters Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Black History Matters Act. This legislation would direct the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to conduct a study on Black history education efforts in public elementary and secondary schools. A study conducted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and Oberg Research found that, on average, only 8-9% of history class time is devoted to Black history, and … Continue Reading
February 08, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman, Congressional Black Caucus Call for Police Reform During State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 8, 2023) — On the day of President Biden’s State of the Union Address, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) led her colleagues in standing against police brutality. The Congresswoman and dozens of her Congressional Black Caucus colleagues wore buttons reading “1870,” the year of the earliest documented police killing of an unarmed Black American. That year, a Philadelphia police officer shot and killed … Continue Reading
January 27, 2023
Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Echo Community Demands for Justice for Tyre Nichols
Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Chair of the CPC Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force, issued the following statement in response to the body camera footage from Memphis Police in the killing of Tyre Nichols: “Like so many across the country, we are horrified and appalled by the actions seen in the video of the murder of Tyre Nichols. The utter lack of humanity on display in the video … Continue Reading
January 27, 2023
New Bipartisan Holocaust Education Bill Introduced in the House on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Today, January 27, 2023, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, new bipartisan legislation — the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act — is being introduced in the House with more than 60 cosponsors. The bipartisan bill is led by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), and co-led by Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-6), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10), and … Continue Reading
January 27, 2023
NJ Selected as One of Four States to Test New Program to Remove Lead Water Pipes in Underserved Communities
Today, EPA announced a major new initiative to accelerate progress toward the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of 100% lead service line removal and replacement. EPA introduced the “Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators” initiative at a White House summit celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and convened state and local leaders to discuss the program. New Jersey is among the first states to participate in the Accelerator … Continue Reading
January 26, 2023
Reps. Watson Coleman, Mfume Reintroduce Bill to Place Safeguards on Online Ammunition Sales
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-7) announced the reintroduction of the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act, legislation that would place limits and safeguards on the online market for ammunition. “Day in and day out men and women lose their lives at the hands of gun violence and the only response from Republicans has been moments of silence and continued inaction. Gun safety policies shouldn’t have to wait for tragedies like Las … Continue Reading
January 23, 2023
Congresswoman Watson Coleman, Senators Booker and Menendez Send Letter to Army Corp of Engineers Requesting Disbursement of Funds to Complete Green Brook Flood Prevention
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) lead a letter along with Senators Booker and Menendez of New Jersey requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers promptly disburse funds appropriated for the completion of the Green Brook Flood Risk Management Project that was appropriated in the end of year spending package passed by Congress last December. Through the efforts of Congresswoman Watson Coleman and former Congressman Tom Malinowski in addition to the State’s two … Continue Reading
January 13, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Secures $1 Million in Federal Funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Greater Plainfield Area
In anticipation of Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service on Monday, and in the midst of January as National Mentoring Month, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced that as part of the omnibus funding package passed in December 2022, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties will receive $1 million for its one-on-one mentorship program that focuses on serving youth in the Greater Plainfield area. This project was one of several community projects … Continue Reading
January 06, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on the Second Anniversary of the January 6 Insurrection
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement on the second anniversary of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021: “Two years ago today, my colleagues and I went to work prepared to carry out our nation’s time-honored tradition of peacefully transferring power to the next president. Instead, we experienced the greatest attack on our democracy since the Civil War. “On January 6, 2021, Republicans and Democrats alike … Continue Reading
December 27, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Supreme Court's Title 42 Order
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following today’s unsigned Supreme Court order temporarily extending Title 42, a destructive and flawed Trump-era measure that was set to expire this month. “The Supreme Court’s order today is a destructive one based purely on politics. As Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in his dissent, this order was made, ‘because policymakers have failed to agree on adequate measures to address … Continue Reading
December 27, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces $15 Million for Community Projects in New Jersey’s 12th District
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced more than $15 million in federal community project funding for 15 organizations in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. This funding comes as part of the omnibus government funding legislation that Congress passed on December 23. The projects receiving funding include public facility restorations, flood mitigation initiatives, youth programs, and more. “As New Jersey’s sole congressional appropriator, I take great … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Celebrates Legislative Victories in Omnibus Funding Legislation
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to pass an omnibus funding bill that would keep the federal government funded through the end of fiscal year 2023. The bill addresses many of the priorities of the 12th District, including mental health equity, funding for public transit, and an increase in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides lifesaving assistance for Americans facing food insecurity . Also included in … Continue Reading