Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Mourns the Passing of IFPTE Local 195 President Tim Rudolph
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement following the passing of IFPTE Local 195 President Tim Rudolph: I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend Tim Rudolph. Tim was devoted to his country and fellow workers. A veteran of Operation Desert Storm, he brought his commitment to service to his work at IFPTE fighting for his union brothers and sisters. His gregarious spirit will continue to live within the hearts of those who knew him … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
Watson Coleman Celebrates House Passage of the CROWN Act
Today, The House of Representatives passed H.R.2116, the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. The act would prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. Congresswoman Bonnie … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Responds To Address By Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Congress and President Biden’s subsequent remarks: Today, President Zelenskyy had a message for not just Congress, not just America, but the world. Throughout his address, Zelenskyy exuded poise and competence despite bearing the monumental burden of leading his nation through weeks of endless, horrific attacks. Appealing to democracy and freedom, … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Funds $7,330,091 In Local Projects
Today, President Biden Signed the 2022 federal spending bill. On Wednesday, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to fund $7,330,091 in Community Project Funding that she previously secured for the 12th District. This funding, included in the appropriations government funding package, responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in the Central Jersey area. “I am incredibly pleased to vote for $7,330,091 in Community Project Funding in this bill that I know will have a … Continue Reading
March 12, 2022
Reps. Watson Coleman, Wasserman Schultz, McMorris Rodgers and Cheney Introduce Resolution Commemorating 110 Year Anniversary of Girl Scout Founding
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), joined by Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Liz Cheney (WY-At Large), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) announced the introduced a resolution recognizing the 110th Anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Founded March 12th, 1912 with 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia, the Girl Scouts now include 1.8 million girls and over 50 million alum. It is the largest, most impactful leadership … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes For Omnibus Funding Bill
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted in favor of $730 billion in non-defense spending in H.R. 2471, the omnibus spending bill. This spending represents an $46 billion increase over last year as the country climbs out of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding includes expanded child-care and early learning programs to serve more working families as parents head back to work and a $2.9 billion increase in education funding including significant … Continue Reading
March 07, 2022
Watson Coleman, Stevens Introduce Resolution Calling on Federal Government to Support Children of Victims of COVID-19
Washington, DC (March 4, 2022) – Today, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) introduced H.Res. 967, a resolution recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on children who have lost caregivers and calling on the Federal Government to identify services and resources that can be used to assist them. It is estimated that over 200,000 children in the United States have lost a primary caregiver to COVID-19. Under normal circumstances, … Continue Reading
March 03, 2022
Biden Admin Announces Support for Children Who Lost Caregivers to COVID-19 Following Letter Lead by Reps. Watson Coleman and Pressley
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration’s decision to include support for bereaved children in its updated National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan: We applaud the Biden Administration for prioritizing support for bereaved children in its national COVID-19 strategy. The unprecedented trauma, hurt and grief caused by the pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis and has particularly impacted … Continue Reading
March 02, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces the Securing Air Travel Act
Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security will consider H.R. 6856, the Securing Air Travel Act introduced by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) chair of the subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. This act would establish minimum monetary penalties for repeat and egregious violations of the prohibition on firearms at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. Last year, TSA intercepted nearly 6,000 firearms at checkpoints - an 83% increase over the … Continue Reading
February 28, 2022
Republican Obstructionists Delay Passage of the CROWN Act
Today, Republican obstructionists prevented the passage of the CROWN Act under the House rules intended for non-controversial bills. The CROWN Act would prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Watson Coleman Leads Letter to House and Senate Leadership Calling for Immediate Consideration of Fire Safety Bills
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) led a bipartisan group of her House colleagues in a letter to House and Senate Leadership calling for immediate consideration of two bills designed to reduce the risk of fires in residential buildings. The Public Housing Fire Safety Act (H.R.2638, S.265) would create a grant program for public housing agencies to install automatic sprinklers in public housing buildings and collect data on the status of sprinkler installations. The High-Rise … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Watson Coleman, New Jersey Delegation Urge FEMA To Provide Data In Order To Allocate Hurricane Ida Disaster Relief Funds
Yesterday, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and the Democratic members of New Jersey Congressional delegation wrote a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging them to ensure that communities impacted by natural disasters receive the support they need. Specifically, the letter calls for FEMA to provide data that would help the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocate funding in a way that would most effectively benefit struggling … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Levin, Watson Coleman, 129 Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing Congressional Workers’ Right to Organize
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) joined 129 House Democratic colleagues in cosponsoring H.Res 915, Recognizing Congressional Workers’ Right to Organize introduced by Congressman Andy Levin (MI-9). Following the passage of the Congressional Accountability Act in 1995, the Office of Compliance and Workplace Rights ruled in 1996 that passage of this resolution was the final step to give congressional workers legal protection to organize and bargain collectively. … Continue Reading
February 02, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Recent Bomb Threats Against Nation's HBCUs
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security released the following statement concerning recent bomb threats at over a dozen HBCUs around the country: The bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities are domestic terrorism that must be investigated and understood as such. As we consider the security of our homeland, it is imperative that we clearly understand the potential peril to our country represented by the … Continue Reading
January 21, 2022
Congresswomen Watson Coleman and Bush Call on Federal Bureau of Prisons to Not Require Individuals in Home Confinement to Return to Prison
Today, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Cori Bush (MO-01) sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal asking how the BOP plans to enforce a policy allowing incarcerated individuals to remain in home confinement instead of returning to prison. In December 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) directed the BOP to allow incarcerated individuals placed in home confinement through the CARES Act to remain there. The letter begins: We write to you today … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces $496 Million in Infrastructure Spending to Complete Green Brook Sub Basin Flood Control Project
Today, the Biden Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced $496 million in disaster supplemental funding to complete the Green Brook Sub Basin Flood Control Project. This new funding is in addition to $261 million previously allocated. In October 2021, following devastating flooding from Hurricane Ida and a visit to the region by President Biden, Congresswoman Watson Coleman wrote a letter to President Biden; Lieutenant General … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Rep. Watson Coleman Rallies Support for Passage of Voting Rights Legislation
Following President Biden’s remarks in Georgia demanding progress on voting rights legislation, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) urged Senators to do whatever it takes – including changing their rules – to get these key bills over the finish line. The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would ensure every American has equal freedom to vote and make their voice heard in our democracy. “The Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Sanders, Khanna, Watson Coleman Reintroduce Legislation to Give Every American Lifesaving N95 Masks
As the world enters the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, with Omicron surging and cases skyrocketing, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), with more than 50 of their Democratic colleagues in the Senate and House, reintroduced lifesaving legislation to manufacture and distribute highly-protective N95 masks to every person in America. Under the Sanders-Khanna Masks for All Act - first introduced in 2020 and developed in consultation with health experts including Andy … Continue Reading
January 07, 2022
Watson Coleman Doubles Help for New Jersey Families to Afford Energy Costs This Winter
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) highlighted a new report from the White House outlining how she delivered more than double the annual investment to help New Jersey families afford energy costs. In total, Watson Coleman helped secure $285,638,960 for New Jersey through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the American Rescue Plan and annual appropriations. As Americans continue to deal with the impacts of the pandemic and high energy costs, New Jersey … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Thompson, Watson Coleman, DeFazio, Larsen Write Airlines to Urge Them to Require and Pay for Crew Members to Attend TSA’s Self Defense Program
Committee on Homeland Security Chair Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Transportation & Maritime Security Subcommittee Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) sent letters to four major airlines urging them to require their crew members to attend TSA’s Crew Member Self Defense Program so that they are equipped with the necessary skills to deter and mitigate dangerous … Continue Reading