Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman, NJCA, join constituents, unions and community groups in town hall calling out Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. for his support of Trump policies
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) joined hundreds of Congressional District 7 and District 12 residents, federal workers, NJ Family Care/Medicaid recipients, immigrants, unions, and community groups at a "Stop the Cuts" town hall organized by New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) to call out Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7) for his support of Trump administration policies. Since taking office, Trump's policies and executive orders have upended the lives of millions of Americans and … Continue Reading
March 21, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Resolution Calling for Increased Research in Colorectal Cancer
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced a resolution acknowledging the horrific impact colorectal cancer has on the Black community and that further research on screening guidelines is needed. 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 50,000 lives each year. The rate of CRC is 20% higher among Black men and 14% higher among … Continue Reading
March 17, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Holds Town Hall in Rep. Van Drew’s District, Discusses Medicaid Cuts with New Jerseyans
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) attended a town hall in Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s district (NJ-02) to discuss potential cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security in the House Republican budget resolution that was passed earlier this year. Rep. Van Drew voted for the measure, which ordered the Energy and Commerce Committee to slash $880 billion from programs under their jurisdiction. It is mathematically impossible for the Committee to do that without significant cuts to Medicare and … Continue Reading
March 17, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Sends Letter to Trump Administration Demanding Information on “Five Bullet Points” Order
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) demanding further information on the order to federal employees to submit by email “five bullet points” detailing their work on a weekly basis. “The assumption that providing these bullet points to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will help with government efficiency is not only unfounded but is insulting to federal employees and a potential security risk,” the letter states. “Federal … Continue Reading
March 14, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Pens Open Letter Calling for Release of Mahmoud Khalil
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following open letter calling for the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil and condemning the Trump Administration for this gross violation of his First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech: To everyone who believes in the promise of America, The weaponization of our Federal Government that we saw last week was an egregious attack on American freedom. Donald Trump and his deputies are hell-bent on extinguishing the values we all hold dear … Continue Reading
March 14, 2025
Reps. Watson Coleman, Rutherford Reintroduce the Bipartisan, Bicameral HELPER Act
Today, U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), John H. Rutherford (FL-05), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) reintroduced H.R. 2094, the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act, in the House. Senators Ashley Moody (FL) and Jon Ossoff (GA) also introduced companion legislation the U.S. Senate. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would establish a new home loan program, modeled after the successful Veterans Affairs (VA) loan … Continue Reading
March 14, 2025
Jayapal, Raskin, Scanlon, Watson Coleman Demand Answers Over Detention and Attempted Deportation of Mahmoud Khalil
U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee, and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) are leading 103 Members of Congress in demanding answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Reps. Balint, Watson Coleman Reintroduce the Stop Comstock Act to Repeal Antiquated Law that Could be Misused to Implement National Abortion Ban
Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is joined by Reps. Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Scanlon (PA-05) to introduce the Stop Comstock Act in response to clear Republican intent to misuse the antiquated and unconstitutional statute, the Comstock Act, to prohibit the mailing of medication abortion and other materials used in abortion procedures. The bill would repeal the portions of the Comstock Act that anti-choice extremists intend to misuse to enact a nationwide abortion ban. Senator Tina Smith … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Reps. Young Kim and Bonnie Watson Coleman Leads Girl Scout Day Resolution
This week, Girl Scouts’ Troop Capitol Hill Co-Chairs Reps. Young Kim (CA-40) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced a bipartisan resolution (H.Res.217) to recognize March 12, 2025 as Girl Scouts Day on its 113th founding anniversary to celebrate the tremendous impact this organization has had on countless young women and girls over time. The resolution: Celebrates Girl Scouts of the USA’s 113 years of inspiring and supporting girls’ leadership development; Congratulates Girl Scouts … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes Against Republican Giveaway to Billionaires in Funding Bill
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted against the GOP’s funding resolution that amounts to an unregulated slush fund for President Trump and Elon Musk. It cuts veterans benefits, it cuts housing, and it puts Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid at risk. “Today’s vote was about handing over even more power from the people’s representatives to President Trump,” said Watson Coleman. “It absolves Congressional Republicans of the responsibility of governing. It tells Donald … Continue Reading
March 06, 2025
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Al Green Introduces Renaming the National School Lunch Program Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressman Al Green (TX-09) reintroduced the Renaming the National School Lunch Program Act. This bill would rename the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) after Jean E. Fairfax, a civil rights icon who played an instrumental role in the integration of public schools in the South and helped overhaul the National School Lunch Program to serve poor children more fairly. Jean E. Fairfax created and led the Committee on School Lunch … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Offers to Help Kean, Van Drew, and Smith Explain to Their Constituents Their Votes to Cut Medicaid
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) challenged New Jersey’s three Congressional Republicans to defend their votes to cut Medicaid from children and seniors in their districts in order to give a tax break to the wealthiest Americans. “News has emerged that Republicans across the country are cancelling their town halls after blowback from constituents following cuts to vital services," said Watson Coleman. "My Republican colleagues must justify their votes to cut healthcare for … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Corrupt Trump Decision to Reopen Private Prison in New Jersey
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration is reopening a private prison in New Jersey: “The decision by the Trump Administration to reopen a private prison in New Jersey smacks of corruption. The company that manages the prison donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Trump’s campaign. In fact, it was the first corporation to max out its donations to his campaign before going on to give even more money to his … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Senator Booker Reintroduce CROWN Act to Outlaw Race-Based Hair Discrimination
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) reintroduced the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act in the House of Representatives. The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair texture.Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced companion legislation in the upper chamber. Twenty-seven states and dozens of cities nationwide have passed their own … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Bill to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with Time Capsule Passes House
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) celebrated the passage of her bill, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act, out of the House of Representatives. The bipartisan legislation authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to create and bury a time capsule on the west lawn of the Capitol, where it will remain until America’s 500th birthday on July 4, 2276. “I am thrilled that my bipartisan legislation to commemorate America’s 250th Birthday with a time capsule has passed the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Reps Watson Coleman, Kelly Send Letter to NIH About Cuts to Programs for Adolescent HIV Research, Prevention, and Care
Yesterday, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Robin Kelly (IL-02) sent a letter to National Institutes of Health Acting Director Matthew J. Memoli expressing concern about the recent suspensions of programs for adolescent HIV research, prevention, and care. Acting Director Memoli has interpreted Trump Administration executive orders as targeting a study to examine ways to prevent HIV infections. The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative (EHE) was begun in 2019 under the … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on House Republican Vote to Gut Medicaid and Cut Taxes for Billionaire Donors
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to advance a budget that cuts Medicaid, raises healthcare costs for working families, and lays the groundwork for trillions of dollars in tax cuts for billionaire GOP donors: “This budget is a huge rip off for working families across America. It lays the groundwork to cut funding for Medicaid, nutrition assistance, consumer protections, and much more - all in the name of forcing through … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Congresswoman Watson Coleman Visits Local Head Start
North Brunswick (February 21, 2025) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and her staff visited a Head Start facility in North Brunswick to meet with local students and educators directly impacted by President Trump’s funding freezes and proposed budget cuts. The facility is part of a Head Start program serving over 1000 children at eight Middlesex and Monmouth County locations. “What I’m hearing from organizations like Head Start is that if the lawsuits to unfreeze … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Kean, Watson Coleman Re-Introduce the ‘One-Seat-Ride Act’
Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) re-introduced the One Seat Ride Act, a bipartisan bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of a one-seat-ride trip versus a transfer trip option during “peak hours” on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line. “Long, inefficient rush-hour commutes mean lost time at kids' sporting events and missed family dinners for countless households in our area,” said Congressman Kean. … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Reps. Watson Coleman, Menendez, McIver Lead Bicameral Charge Against Expansion of Private ICE Detention in New Jersey
Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) continued their efforts to protect immigrant communities and prevent the expansion of private immigration detention centers in New Jersey. Together with Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim and Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Frank Pallone Jr.(NJ-06), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), the Representatives led a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. … Continue Reading