Press Releases
Reps. Watson Coleman, Kim, Sires Call on NJ State Officials to Equitably Distribute Federal Infrastructure Funding
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressmen Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Albio Sires (NJ-08) sent a letter to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the NJ Department of Transportation and NJ Transit urging them to distribute funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to underrepresented businesses. Specifically, the letter asks that state elected officials ensure that Small, Minority, Women or Veteran-owned Business Enterprises (SMWVBE), Disability-owned businesses, and … Continue Reading
December 20, 2021
Watson Coleman, Pressley Lead Letter to President Biden and Secretary Becerra to Highlight Needs of Children Who Have Lost Caretakers to Covid
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), vice-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-7) lead 21 of their colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra urging them to prioritize the needs of children who have lost parents and caregivers to Covid 19. The letter reads in part: As Members of Congress, we are concerned that these bereaved children are not receiving support, both … Continue Reading
December 17, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces Trenton-Mercer Airport to Receive $3.4 Million From Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced that $3,482,989 in new federal funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is headed to New Jersey’s 12th District to make much-needed improvements to Trenton-Mercer Airport. The funding can be used to update runways and taxiways, improve safety and sustainability, or invest in terminals, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. “Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this nearly $3.5 million … Continue Reading
December 17, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Urges Justice Department to Investigate Use of Racist Prosecutorial Tactics in Domestic Terrorism Cases
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, led three of her colleagues in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for the Department of Justice to investigate the Department’s use of prosecutorial tactics that disproportionately harm Black and brown Americans. The letter reads in part: This past June you gave remarks on the first National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism and spoke about the efforts to … Continue Reading
December 08, 2021
Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Introduces Legislation to Create National Liberty Memorial, Honor African American Revolutionary War Patriots
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa along with Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-1) today introduced legislation to extend authorization of the National Liberty Memorial, a monument to commemorate enslaved and free African Americans who fought in the United States Revolutionary War. The bipartisan National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act (H.R. 6201/S. 3334) would allow a nonprofit to continue its important work … Continue Reading
December 03, 2021
House Progressives Call for Rep. Lauren Boebert to Be Removed From Committee Assignments
Representatives Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), André Carson (IN-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), were joined by 34 House progressives to issue the following statement today calling for Representative Lauren Boebert (CO-03) to be removed from her committee assignments following her Islamophobic comments and incitement of anti-Muslim animus. “Rep. Boebert has repeatedly weaponized dangerous, anti-Muslim bigotry at our colleague Representative Ilhan Omar … Continue Reading
November 10, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Pass Infrastructure Bill and Advance Build Back Better Act
On Friday, under the leadership of President Biden, Congress delivered a long awaited “infrastructure week.” The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, is a once-in-a generation investment that will modernize our nation’s infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying union jobs. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will fund and jumpstart the manufacture of solar panels, wind farms, and electric vehicle charging … Continue Reading
November 10, 2021
Watson Coleman Leads Letter to January 6th Select Committee Urging Them to Move Swiftly Despite Resistance from Witnesses
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) - Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation & Maritime Security, along with six other members of the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees, sent a letter to Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS-02) - Chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack of the United States Capitol, calling on the Committee to continue its work despite recent resistance to subpoenas for witnesses and documents. The letter reads in … Continue Reading
November 09, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces More than $112 Million to Help New Jersey Families Cover Energy Costs This Winter
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced $112,718,824 to help hardworking New Jersey families with energy costs this winter through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). As American’s continue to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, LIHEAP grantees will be able to use the funding appropriated by Congress, along with funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, to help more than 5 million households … Continue Reading
October 26, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Customer Non-Discrimination Act
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 in 2020, adds sexual orientation, sex, and gender identity to the prohibitions on discrimination covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “We’ve come a long way in the fight for equality irrespective of what we look … Continue Reading
October 22, 2021
Watson Coleman Reintroduces The Gig Is Up Act to Combat Exploitation of Gig Economy Workers
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced the Gig Is Up Act, which would provide unprecedented relief for gig workers. The bill would require companies that gross at least $100 million and employ at least 10,000 independent contractors to pay the full cost of both the employer and worker contributions to Social Security and Medicare. “Companies like Uber are worth billions of dollars, yet they refuse to treat their workers humanely. This is exploitation, pure and … Continue Reading
October 15, 2021
Reps. Watson Coleman, Barbara Lee, Schiff, Jones Reintroduce PrEP Assistance Program Act
Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Adam Schiff (CA-28) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) reintroduced the PrEP Assistance Program Act to make the preventative HIV drug PrEP more affordable and accessible to underserved and high-risk populations. The bill would provide grants to cover medication costs, clinic and testing fees, physician visits and community outreach programs. Although PrEP has been available for several years, many Americans lack access to and … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Reps. Watson Coleman, Pallone, Kim Applaud House Passage of Funding Bill that Forgives New Jersey Community Disaster Loans
Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Andy Kim (NJ-03) today applauded House passage of a government operations spending bill that will help New Jersey recover from the devastation of natural disasters. The bill forgives outstanding balances of Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) made to municipalities throughout New Jersey to help them recover from Superstorm Sandy. Last year, the New Jersey delegation requested cancellation of unforgiven loans. Currently, … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Congresswoman Watson Coleman Leads Letter to HUD Secretary Regarding Homes Sold in Flood Zones
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) lead 15 of her House Democratic Colleagues in a letter to Secretary Marica Fudge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) seeking a response to a recent NPR investigation that claimed HUD was far more likely to sell homes in federally designated flood zones. Buyers were often unlikely to receive information about flood risk and flood insurance. “We write to express our concerns of a recent investigation, conducted by NPR, which … Continue Reading
August 12, 2021
Watson Coleman Leads Colleagues in Letter to Secretary Yellen to Increase Voter Registration Opportunities at VITA Sites
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) lead 14 of her colleagues in a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen calling on her to increase access to voter registration at the nations thousands of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program sites. Following research by the Brookings Institute, it’s estimated that offering voter registration at VITA sites nationwide would lead to about 115,000 registrations of eligible voters without slowing tax preparation times. “While … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Reps Watson Coleman, Hill and Senators Booker, Young Reintroduce Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressman French Hill (AR-2) announced the reintroduction of bipartisan legislation that would allow taxpayers the option to defer a portion of their taxes into an account that earns interest for six months. The bill, The Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act, seeks to give more families the flexibility to handle minor emergencies. “For too many families, a blown tire, a burst pipe, or even a few days off with due to illness can result in … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Watson Coleman, DeLauro, Lee Reintroduce 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-13) announced the reintroduction of H.R. 4902 - 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 Rep. Watson Coleman. “Now, in the midst of … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Make Historic Investments in Jobs, Opportunity, Working Families with New Government Funding Package
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to make historic investments in American jobs, opportunity and working families with H.R. 4502, a package to fund the federal government in the next fiscal year. This essential legislation will improve the health and financial security of American families - while also investing in clean energy, public health and education to set America up for future success. “With this funding package, Democrats are following through on our pledge to Build … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Watson Coleman, Pallone, Kim Applaud House Passage of Appropriations Bill that Provides Relief for Families Still Recovering from Sandy
Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6) and Andy Kim (NJ-3) today applauded House passage of an appropriations bill that provides relief for families currently required to pay back disaster relief funds they received after Superstorm Sandy. The provisions in the bill grant the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development the authority to waive the requirement for New Jersey homeowners to pay back federal disaster relief aid, also known as clawbacks, as a result … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls Send Letter to International Olympic Committee on Treatment of Black Women
Today, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Robin Kelly (IL-02) sent a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in response to the high level of scrutiny and penalization that has disproportionately impacted Black women during the 2021 Summer Olympic Games trials. In the letter, the co-chairs request the IOC to re-evaluate its current policies and standards in … Continue Reading