Press Releases
New Jersey Congressional Democrats Lead Letter to DHS Demanding Accountability for Medical Neglect, Deaths Connected to Delaney Hall
All nine Democratic members of the New Jersey House delegation — Reps. Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) — today sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella demanding immediate answers and accountability following the third death connected to Delaney Hall … Continue Reading
August 05, 2026
Congresswoman Watson Coleman, AG Davenport, Superintendent Hengemuhle, announce record Federal funding for State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
Ewing, NJ (August 3, 2026) - Today, at the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the awarding of $675,000 in federal funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), a division of the New Jersey State Police. Congresswoman Watson Coleman sits on the Appropriations Committee and secured the funding through the Community Project Funding program. She was joined by New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, Acting … Continue Reading
August 03, 2026
Watson Coleman Statement on Death of Detainee at Delaney Hall
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following news of the passing of Edwin Lopez Cornejo at Delaney Hall on Saturday. Cornejo, 39, a resident of Plainfield, had been in ICE detention at Delaney Hall for about six weeks and, according to family members, was not given his medication for his diabetes and high blood pressure. “Edwin had lived in the United States since he was a child. By all accounts, he was an upstanding member of his community. His detention alone … Continue Reading
July 23, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman and Tatyana Ali Discuss Traumatic Births and Black Maternal Health
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) hosted a livestream with actress, writer, and activist Tatyana Ali for an important conversation on traumatic births and Black maternal mental health. They were joined by Ali’s husband, Dr. Vaughn Rasberry, to recount her birth story and discuss Rep. Watson Coleman’s Traumatic Births Research Act. This conversation comes as the nation marks Black Maternal Mental Health Week and the Congresswoman raises awareness about the issues Black mothers deal … Continue Reading
July 23, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Resolution Condemning All Forms of Hate
Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the introduction of a Resolution Condemning All Forms of Hate, emphasizing the importance of an inclusive democracy and rejecting hateful discourse targeted at vulnerable populations. This resolution condemns all representations of discrimination, including racism, islamophobia, antisemitism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, ableism, and ethnic or religious bigotry. Just a few weeks ago, two men in Idaho were … Continue Reading
July 23, 2026
Adams, Frankel, Leger Fernández, Watson Coleman, Blunt Rochester Introduce Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12),LoisFrankel (FL-22),Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12),Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), introduced the Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Resolution, marking July 21st as Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and recognizing the deep, persistent wage gap that Black women continue to face in the United States. Every year, the date of Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is set to mark the amount of time Black women … Continue Reading
July 22, 2026
Watson Coleman Votes to Reject Sham Stock Trading Bill
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to reject a Speaker Johnson-endorsed measure that purported to ban members of Congress from trading stocks but in fact failed to address insider trading. The so-called “Stop Insider Trading Act,” which has been promoted as a ban on stock trading by members of Congress, fails to actually end the ownership or sale of stock by members. The American people deserve to be confident that their members of Congress do not trade stocks held in … Continue Reading
July 22, 2026
Watson Coleman Votes to Reject Partisan National Defense Authorization Act
Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027: Today I voted against a defense authorization bill that once again puts partisan politics ahead of our national security. During full committee markup, Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee were able to secure certain provisions to the bill that would improve pay, housing, childcare, and … Continue Reading
July 22, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes Against Wasteful Budget Reconciliation Resolution
Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the House Budget Committee, voted against a bad Republican budget bill (H. Con. Res. 113) that would use taxpayer dollars to pay for the Trump administration's mistakes abroad while also investing in new ways to disenfranchise voters. The budget resolution would funnel another $73 billion into Trump’s War in Iran, $12 billion for farm assistance largely needed because of President Trump’s reckless tariff agenda and war of choice, … Continue Reading
July 15, 2026
Watson Coleman Statement on Massie Amendment
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted in favor of the Massie Amendment to strip $3.3 billion in U.S. military assistance to Israel from a State Department spending bill (H.R. 8595). Congresswoman Watson Coleman released the following statement: "The ongoing horror in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon has shocked the world. The United States places an expectation on its allies to hold up certain standards of humanity. Israel has not only failed to meet those standards; it has … Continue Reading
July 15, 2026
25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill
WASHINGTON—Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act: “As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents’ hard-earned money is used in a way … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Reject Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement following the passage of the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act in the House of Representatives: While the KIDS Act took some steps in the right direction to protect children, it failed to address the serious concerns of social media’s impact on children’s mental health and suicidal ideation. In 2019, I chaired the CBC Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health. In hearing after … Continue Reading
June 25, 2026
Watson Coleman Statement on Supreme Court Immigration Decisions
Today, following the release of Supreme Court decisions on the status of assylum seekers and the TPS system, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement: On Tuesday, a judge put a stop to the federal government’s unlawful campaign of making arrests at immigration courts, finally taking a stand against Trump and his administration. I have been calling for such efforts to be made since the beginning of these arrests with the introduction of my bill, the … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Reps. Watson Coleman, Tlaib Send Letter to FIO Addressing Auto Insurance Affordability and Discrimination
Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2026) - Today, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) sent a letter to Federal Insurance Office (FIO) Director Steven E. Seitz, requesting that the FIO look into the factors contributing to unaffordability in the auto insurance market, including the role of proxy factors and pricing discrimination in affecting premiums and coverage. Auto insurance is one of the only insurance products required in nearly all states; yet transparency … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Democrats Hold Field Hearing and Oversight Visit to Delaney Hall
Today, Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Democratic members of the House Committee on Homeland Security held a field hearing in Newark, New Jersey, to examine the conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center. Following the hearing, members traveled to the facility to conduct an oversight visit at Delaney Hall. The oversight inspection provided members an opportunity to assess conditions … Continue Reading
June 16, 2026
REP. WATSON COLEMAN RELEASES NEW REPORT ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES IN MATERNAL HEALTH
Washington, D.C. (June 16, 2026) - Today, the Advisory Coalition on Health Equity (ACHE), under the leadership of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), released "Bridging the Gap: Improving Access to Maternal and Reproductive Healthcare for Stronger Futures", a report and legislative agenda outlining actionable solutions to address disparities in maternity care. Despite decades of progress in maternal and reproductive health policy, systemic inequities persist, and in many cases, are … Continue Reading
June 08, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Gun Safety Legislation to Outlaw Gun Silencers
Washington, D.C. (June 8, 2026) - Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, federal gun safety legislation to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer and possession of gun silencers or suppressors. “Silencers are not tools of self-defense, they are tools of murder,” said Watson Coleman. “They have no legal application which is why law enforcement officials around the country have been calling for their … Continue Reading
June 03, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on House Passage of Resolution to End Trump's War with Iran
Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a War Powers resolution brought forward by Representative Gregory Meeks (NY-05) to reign in Trump's actions in Iran: The House just passed a War Powers resolution to end a conflict that Trump started without a plan or strategy. Democrats had repeatedly forced votes since the war began, but GOP leadership blocked them. Their obstruction has cost the nation billions and … Continue Reading
May 29, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Worker Rights and Support Act
Washington, D.C. (May 29, 2026) - Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced 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. “Every worker deserves to be treated with dignity,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “This bill guarantees employers respect the basic human rights … Continue Reading
May 28, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Human and Civil Rights Abuses by ICE at Delaney Hall
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement: “My staff is on the ground at Delaney Hall following reports of retaliation by ICE agents against hunger strikers, including pepper spraying and beating detainees. I’m in contact with the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and working with my colleagues in the New Jersey delegation to end this violence, uphold the rule of law and defend the constitution. “The hunger and labor strikes at the facility are in … Continue Reading