Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Celebrates Grand Opening of Revitalized Reading Center for Trenton Community
Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) attended a ribbon cutting celebrating the grand reopening of the renovated Reading Senior Center in Trenton, New Jersey and gave the following remarks: When the senior center closed years ago, it was a tremendous loss to the Trenton senior community. The road to bring it back was a long one - and not without bumps along the way. But Mayor Reed, the City Council, and Mercer County were committed to serving the community and to getting this … Continue Reading
September 10, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Addresses Housing Affordability and Equity at Panel Event in Trenton
Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) spoke to the Capital Region Minority Chamber of Commerce (CRMCC) about housing affordability. Joined by CRMCC President Herb Ames and industry experts, the Congresswoman highlighted the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a comprehensive bipartisan package passed earlier this year that addresses many dimensions of housing policy. Over the past few years, Americans have dealt with rising housing costs, putting a strain on millions of families … Continue Reading
September 10, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Lt. Gov. Investigation
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) made the following statement regarding the reported investigation into Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell: For more than three decades, I have known Lt. Gov. Caldwell to be a good and decent man. I also take any allegation of improper actions very seriously. I have full confidence in the investigatory process the Governor has … Continue Reading
September 03, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Recent Violence in Trenton
Congresswoman Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement in response to recent violence in Trenton, NJ including Sunday’s shooting at a block party on Locust Street: The tragedy of Sunday's shooting highlights the need to do better by the people of Trenton. The city’s unique role as our state capital means responsibility falls not just on the city, but on all levels of government and community members. This block party, while unsanctioned, was not unknown to Trenton Police. A … Continue Reading
September 02, 2026
Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Lead Effort Demanding HUD Protect Fair Housing Program
On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Congressman Al Green, along with Congresswoman Lateefah Simon and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, raising serious concerns about recent actions that threaten the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and the local fair housing organizations that serve communities across the nation. A copy of the letter can be accessed by clicking here. The lawmakers expressed … Continue Reading
September 01, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after her vote to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, 2026. “Today’s passage of this continuing resolution pushes the government funding deadline to December 11th. While keeping the government open and functioning is important, I’m disappointed in the Republicans in the House who have thus far failed to seek bipartisan agreements with … Continue Reading
August 07, 2026
Rep. Watson Coleman Demands Immediate Action Following Death and Medical Neglect at Delaney Hall Detention Center
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), along with four of her Democratic colleagues from New Jersey, sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella demanding answers regarding the death of Edwin Lopez Cornejo and the severe medical neglect of Amro Sehaim, both of whom were held in ICE custody at Delany Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Lopez Cornejo passed away on August 1st after repeatedly raising … Continue Reading
August 06, 2026
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