Press Releases
Trenton Old Barracks Museum Awarded $750,000 Grant for Historic Preservation
Washington, DC (July 13, 2023) - Today, the National Park Service awarded $10 million in the second round of funding from the Semiquincentennial Grant Program commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. These grants include $750,000 for preservation of the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ. Created by Congress in 2020 and funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, this round of grants will support 20 cultural resource … Continue Reading
June 30, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Renaming the National School Lunch Program Act
Washington, DC (June 30, 2023) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressman Al Green (TX-09) introduced the Renaming the National School Lunch Program Act. This bill would rename the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) 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 … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Rep Watson Coleman Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Precedent on Affirmative Action
Ewing, NJ (June 29, 2023) - Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus's Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn precedent and end affirmative action: I am appalled by the decision of the Supreme Court to eliminate the right of universities and colleges to address … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman, EPA Regional Administrator Garcia, NJDEP Commissioner LaTaurette, Mayor Gusciora Announce $2 Million Grant to Clean Up New Methods Cleaners Brownfields Site
Trenton, NJ (June 29, 2023) – Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Trenton, New Jersey will get nearly $2 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to clean up a former industrial site in Trenton, New Jersey while advancing environmental justice. This award is part of … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Customer Non-Discrimination Act
Washington, DC (June 27, 2023) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced the Customer Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that ensures fair treatment for LGBTQ+ Americans in public spaces and commercial services open to the public. The bill, also included as a provision of the Equality Act, adds sexual orientation, sex, and gender identity to the prohibitions on discrimination covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “Most Americans, be they LGBTQ+ or straight, … Continue Reading
June 23, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Resolution Recognizing the Importance of Intersectionality for Abortion Access
Washington, D.C. (June 23, 2023) – Today, co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), introduced a resolution that acknowledges the importance of intersectionality for abortion access. The resolution recognizes that women of lower socioeconomic standing and women of racial and ethnic minority status are at the highest risk when abortion is restricted. Expanding access to our most vulnerable … Continue Reading
June 22, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Stay Cool Act to Better Prepare Communities to Address Heat Emergencies
Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2023) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced the Stay Cool Act, a package of proposals for addressing the increased threat of heat emergencies by improving how we study, react to, and mitigate extreme heat. The Stay Cool Act is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive bill that studies and addresses rising surface temperatures across the United States in order to provide safer living conditions for all communities. This week, temperatures in … Continue Reading
June 17, 2023
Congresswomen Watson Coleman, Bush Joint Statement on 52nd Anniversary of War on Drugs
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2023) — Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released a joint statement on the 52nd Anniversary of the War on Drugs announcing the reintroduction of the Drug Policy Reform Act: “52 years ago, President Richard Nixon initiated a violent, racist campaign against Black and brown communities in this country. From the start, the War on Drugs has been about suppressing the voices and lives of the marginalized, not … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes for Resolution Calling for Russia's Immediate Release of Princeton Native Evan Gershkovich
Washington, DC (June 13, 2023) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted in favor of H. Res. 377, a resolution calling for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich, a journalist and Princeton, NJ native who has been detained by the Russian government since March 2023. The resolution passed the House of Representatives unanimously. "The continued detention of Evan Gershkovich is completely unacceptable and must come to an end,” said Watson Coleman. “He must … Continue Reading
June 06, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Shalanda Young’s Involvement with the Debt Ceiling Deal
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement regarding OMB Director Shalanda Young’s involvement with the Bipartisan Budget Deal: “Since the beginning of Shalanda Young’s involvement with the Appropriations Committee, she displayed exactly what Shirley Chisholm was talking about when she said, ‘You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing … Continue Reading
June 06, 2023
Watson Coleman, Tlaib, Takano Reintroduce Legislation to End Discrimination in Automobile Insurance Rates
Washington, DC (June 6, 2023) - 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 would end the use of income, credit score, education levels, and other factors unrelated to driving history and ability, preventing insurance companies from using these … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Raise Debt Ceiling, Calls for Elimination of Archaic Debt Ceiling Process
Congresswoman Watson Coleman released the following statement regarding her vote for the Fiscal Responsibility Act: “Over the last several days my office has received input from the constituents of the 12th District, worried about our country defaulting while also voicing their concerns about the recent process of this debt ceiling. “Voting to raise the debt ceiling should be a bipartisan measure to pay the debts already accrued by the federal government. Since 1960, Congress has … Continue Reading
May 25, 2023
Congresswomen Watson Coleman and Bush Denounce Passage of harmful HALT Fentanyl Act and Urge a Course Correction on Failed Substance Abuse Policy
Washington, D.C. (May 25, 2023) - Today, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Cori Bush (MO-01) released the following statement upon the passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act: “It appears some of our colleagues have learned nothing from the devastating impact of our nation's failed war on drugs. In the more than 50 years since the War on Drugs was declared, we’ve seen an explosion of our prison populations, while drug overdoses continue to climb. The … Continue Reading
May 23, 2023
Reps. Watson Coleman, Pressley, McClellan Introduce Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act
Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2023) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) along with her colleagues Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and 21 cosponsors, including Gregory Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced the Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act of 2023. When accessing military hair and grooming standards, the 2020 Defense Advisory Committee on Women in Service (DACOWITS) report identified … Continue Reading
May 22, 2023
Reps. Watson Coleman, Kim, Senator Menendez Join with Mental Health Advocates at Rider University for Discussion and Listening Session on the Mental Health Crisis
Lawrence Twp, NJ (Monday, May 22, 2023) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Senator Menendez (NJ) joined with mental health practitioners and advocates for a round table discussion and listening session on the campus of Rider University in Lawrence Township, NJ. In a discussion moderated by Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Dean of the NYU Silver School of Social Work and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work, the three Members of Congress … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Reps. Watson Coleman, Napolitano, Senator Menendez Reintroduce Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act
Washington, D.C. (May 18, 2023) – Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the reintroduction of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act. The Act was originally introduced in 2020 following a report from the Congressional Black Caucus’s Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health chaired by Congresswoman Watson Coleman. The report – “Ring the Alarm: the Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America.” – outlined the state of … Continue Reading
May 15, 2023
Reps Watson Coleman, Delauro, Lee Reintroduce the Improving Diaper Affordability Act
Acknowledging the financial challenge families face in affording diapers and other necessities during this pandemic, today Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Barbara Lee (CA-12) announced the reintroduction of the Improving Diaper Affordability Act to make the purchase of diapers tax-free. “Diapers are essential, not a luxury, and even before the pandemic, families were struggling to afford them,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “This … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Proposed Changes to Border Policy
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement regarding proposed changes to our border policy: “Most Americans agree the United States is at its best when it comes to the aid of those fleeing violence, persecution, and environmental degradation. It is a part of our shared identity as a nation of immigrants. I will not back down until we uphold our values of welcoming people, providing them dignity and showing them compassion. “The Biden … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Reps Watson Coleman, Rutherford Reintroduce Bipartisan Bicameral HELPER Act
Yesterday, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and John Rutherford (FL-05) reintroduced H.R. 3170, the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act. The bipartisan and bicameral HELPER Act establishes a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to make homeownership more accessible to teachers and first responders by eliminating some of the barriers for first-time homebuyers, like a down payment and monthly mortgage insurance … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Joins the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) joined the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, which aims to persuade investors and asset managers to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions. Globally, the value of assets engaged in sustainable investing has grown rapidly and is expected to increase in 2025. As Americans, we have a duty to better understand sustainable investing and create policies that provide protections and … Continue Reading