Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Escalating Violence between Israel and Iran
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding escalating violence between Iran and Israel: “The United States was in negotiations with Iran to end their nuclear program and lift sanctions. Israel's attack puts that deal and the lives of U.S. Military personnel in the region in jeopardy. I am praying that these actions don't lead to a wider war and that cooler heads will prevail for the sake of innocent people in both countries. Netanyahu does not care about … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Poor Conditions at Delaney Hall, Food Shortages, Detainee Escapes
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding substandard conditions at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, including food shortages, contaminated water, and physical weaknesses in the building structure which reportedly allowed detainees to escape. “Mayor Baraka was right to question the conditions of Delaney Hall. Greater oversight of our detention facilities is clearly needed, and Congress should immediately investigate GEO Group’s other … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Trump Birthday Parade
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the America250 Commission and co-founder of the America250 Caucus, issued the following statement regarding Trump’s birthday parade, and the decision to use the America250 brand to facilitate it: “Since joining the United States Semiquincentennial Commission I have worked to help shape a commemoration of our nation’s 250th Anniversary that belongs to all Americans - one that recognizes our shared history and reflects the values of … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Federal Agents Assaulting Senator Alex Padilla
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement after video was released showing federal agents assaulting Senator Alex Padilla and dragging him out of a public event held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is outrageous behavior. Federal agents assaulting a sitting U.S. Senator is absolutely unacceptable. If this is how they treat the Senior Senator in the state he represents, in public, on camera, then nobody is safe. Wake the hell up! This should terrify … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Legislation to Save Vital NIH Research Grants
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman led 40 of her colleagues in introducing legislation to protect vital research being conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Preventing Halting of Active Research Act would unfreeze and release funding for NIH contracts, prohibit termination of active research grants funding by the NIH, and reform termination clauses in grant contracts of the NIH. On April 4th, the Trump Administration and Department of Government Efficiency … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Chairman Aguilar Announces House Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force Led By Rep. Watson Coleman as House Republicans Slash Basic Needs Programs
Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar announced the re-launch of the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Poverty. Chaired by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), the Task Force will focus on solutions to help working families meet their basic needs and fight back against the extreme budget cuts passed by House Republicans, which rip away programs that millions of Americans rely on. “House Democrats know that America’s strength comes from the promise that every person has the chance to … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Mourns Passing of Former Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement on the passing of former Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes: “I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend, Brian Hughes. Brian was a lifelong public servant who tirelessly served Mercer County as its executive with dignity and exceptional service for 20 years. “Our families have known each other since our fathers worked together decades ago. He always fought for the less fortunate … Continue Reading
June 09, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes for Resolution Condemning Antisemitic Attacks, Opposes Resolution Which Seeks to Politicize Them
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding her votes on two House resolutions addressing the recent attack on a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, and the broader rise in antisemitic violence: “There is no place in our country, or anywhere, for antisemitic hate or violence. What happened in Boulder was a heinous act of terrorism, and my heart remains with the victims and their families. “I voted in favor of H.Res. 481 which clearly condemns … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to U.S. to Face Criminal Charges
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding the news that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was wrongly deported and imprisoned in El Salvador, is being returned to the United States to face criminal charges. “It is reassuring to see that the Trump administration has the ability to return people they have wrongfully deported and imprisoned in El Salvador, despite lying to the public, the press, Congress and the courts for months about their inability to do so. I … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Condemns Trump’s Racist Travel Ban
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement condemning Trump’s Islamophobic racist travel ban targeting Muslim-majority and African nations: “Time and time again Trump officials have come before Congress and I have expressed to them my disgust at the racism and discrimination that guide the policy decisions of Trump and this White House. And time and again I’m met with lazy platitudes, with officials claiming that they do not discriminate. “My response has always been: … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Watson Coleman Votes Against Empty Promises in Support Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted against the Support Act. Rep. Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding her vote: “For my entire tenure as a Member of Congress, I have been an advocate for taking a holistic, health-based approach to substance abuse disorder; one that focuses on healing and not criminal justice, and that puts the resources necessary into recovery. The Support Act will accomplish none of this. It is a mirage - a hollow messaging bill meant … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on President Zelenskyy and the Ongoing War in Ukraine
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine: "I want to express my continued support and deep admiration for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. Their unwavering courage in the face of relentless Russian aggression has been nothing short of extraordinary. This latest Ukrainian drone operation, personally supervised by President Zelenskyy, struck a devastating blow to the Russian war machine - but it also exposed … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Recent Antisemitic Attacks
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding the recent antisemitic attacks in Washington, D.C. and Boulder, CO: “Over the past few weeks we have seen a deeply disturbing rise in incidents of antisemitic violence. First, here in the nation’s capital where two young people were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum. And this weekend in Boulder, CO, when demonstrators calling for the safe return of hostages still held by Hamas terrorists were attacked with … Continue Reading
May 29, 2025
Watson Coleman, Tlaib, Takano Reintroduce Legislation to Prevent Discrimination in Car Insurance Rates Against Working Class Americans
Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Mark Takano (CA-39) reintroduced a bill to ensure insurance companies use only driving-related factors in determining car insurance rates and eligibility. The Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act, or PAID Act (H.R. 1270), would end the use of income, credit score, education levels, and other racial proxies unrelated to driving history and ability, preventing insurance companies from using these details to … Continue Reading
May 27, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Hosts Town Hall in Montgomery
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) hosted a town hall and health and wellness resources fair at the Montgomery Municipal Center in Montgomery, New Jersey. Vendors from Federal, State, and Local agencies as well as 31 organizations focused on health services were present, assisting almost 100 constituents. Following the health and wellness resource fair, Congresswoman Watson Coleman held a town hall with local residents to discuss attacks on Medicare and Medicaid, LIHEAP, and the … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces End For-Profit Prisons Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the End For-Profit Prisons Act of 2025. First introduced in September 2016, during Watson Coleman’s first term in Congress, the End For-Profit Prisons Act would phase out Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Marshals Service contracts with for-profit prison facilities and would require federal employees to perform core correctional services. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order to reverse the Biden … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Reconciliation Vote
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement after Republicans voted to advance a budget proposal that would strip 13.7 million Americans of their healthcare to pay for $3.8 trillion in tax cuts predominately for the rich and large corporations - while still adding $2.5 trillion to the deficit. “This is the most harmful budget I have ever seen advanced during my time in Congress. It makes unprecedented cuts to basic needs programs, like food assistance and Medicaid, that … Continue Reading
May 19, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Charges Against Congresswoman McIver
Today, after the Trump administration announced it was pursuing criminal charges against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement: “This case is an assault on civil liberties and an attempt to silence political opposition. I was with Congresswoman LaMonica McIver and Congressman Rob Menendez at Delaney Hall and I saw what happened. These allegations are simply incorrect and inconsistent with the facts. We were present to exercise our oversight … Continue Reading
May 16, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Failure of Reconciliation Bill in Budget Committee
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Republican budget proposal failed to advance out of the committee: “In yet another display of Republican chaos and incompetence, the GOP failed to pass their reconciliation bill because it wasn’t cruel enough for their own members. “This proposal would kick 13.7 million Americans off their health insurance in order to pay for $3.8 trillion in tax cuts predominantly … Continue Reading
May 13, 2025
Senator Sanders, Representatives Watson Coleman, Khanna Reintroduce the WATER Act to Expand Access to Clean, Affordable Drinking Water
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) each introduced the WATER Act, a comprehensive bill to expand access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability Act has 65 House cosponsors and 5 Senate cosponsors and is co-led in the House by Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17). The WATER Act was first introduced in 2016. Its reintroduction comes amid a reconciliation process that aims at … Continue Reading