Press Releases
Watson Coleman, Toomey Introduce Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced the introduction of H.R. 4429, the Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act. The year 2026 will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, Congresswoman Watson Coleman is working to prepare the nation for the commemoration of this historic milestone with national programs and signature projects. The Semiquincentennial Commemorative Coin Act will be one … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
House Passes Watson Coleman Bill to Improve TSA Preparedness
On Tuesday, the House passed H.R. 1893, the bipartisan Transportation and Security Preparedness Act introduced by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) chair of the subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to, within two years of enactment, develop a transportation security preparedness plan for communicable disease outbreaks. The plan would have to cover communicating with TSA workers, modifying aviation … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces $3.9 Million in Investments in Trenton Infrastructure
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the passage of two targeted infrastructure projects for the City of Trenton through the House Appropriations Committee. Along with the previously passed Route 29 Tunnel Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) project these initiatives constitute significant infrastructure improvements. This year, the Appropriations and T&I Committees accepted funding requests from House members for district specific local projects. Rep. … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Expresses Disappointment with Biden Administration Decision to Return To Prison Inmates on Home Confinement
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued a statement following reporting that the Biden administration has approved the return of thousands of federal convicts who were previously released to home confinement to reduce the spread of Covid-19 after the official state of emergency ends. The decision upholds a last-minute Trump administration memo ordering those released back to prison. “This is an extremely disappointing … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021
Congresswoman Watson Coleman Announces the Appointment of Lukata Mjumbe as Faith-Based Policy Advisor
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced the appointment of Reverend Lukata Mjumbe as her office’s Faith-Based Policy Advisor. The appointment of Rev. Mjumbe acknowledges the diversity of the faith communities in the 12th District. Rev. Mjumbe will work to coordinate faith leaders’ involvement in policy advocacy efforts, special events, and other activities to ensure the needs of the community are reflected in the Congresswoman’s work. Serving as pastor of the Witherspoon Street … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Watson Coleman, Pallone, and Kim Announce Financial Relief for Families Still Recovering from Superstorm Sandy will Advance in House
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced today that two appropriations bills in the House of Representatives will include critical relief for victims of Superstorm Sandy and municipalities in New Jersey. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee granted the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development the authority to waive the requirement for New Jersey homeowners to pay … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Reps. Watson Coleman and Lee Lead Letter to International Swimming Federation on Swim Caps for Natural Hair
Today, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) led a letter sent to the President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in response to the rejection of the use of swim caps designed for natural Black hair in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Joined by Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and cosponsors of H.R. 2116, the CROWN Act, the signers request FINA evaluate how barriers to participation, like the unavailability of swim caps, impact the … Continue Reading
July 08, 2021
Watson Coleman Leads Introduction of Bill for Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), announced the reintroduction of the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act, legislation that would establish a nationwide pilot program to test the outcomes of a federally funded income support program that keeps more American families from experiencing permanent financial fallout and lasting poverty from a single unexpected crisis. Over the past year, the Coronavirus pandemic has devastated the economy for everyday families, and while millionaires and … Continue Reading
July 07, 2021
Watson Coleman and Swalwell Lead Letter to Require Equality for Women in Maternity Care Insurance Coverage
Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today led 40 of their colleagues in asking Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to issue guidance that federally-funded and federally-administered health insurers must cover all pregnancy and pregnancy-related services, including coverage of maternity care for dependents. “It would be illogical and contrary to the ACA to require coverage of some costs, including prenatal care, but not the most … Continue Reading
July 07, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse: My prayers are with the people of Haiti at this especially turbulent time. The assassination of President Moïse was a heinous act of violence and a deeply concerning breach of security. There is an immediate need for transparency and thorough investigation. I support the United States and the Biden administration in efforts to assist the people of … Continue Reading
July 06, 2021
Watson Coleman Sends Letter to President and FEMA Administrator Requesting Strategic Plan for Heat Emergencies
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), sent a letter to President Joseph Biden and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, requesting information on how the federal government and FEMA respond to heat emergencies. A heatwave on the West Coast has contributed to hundreds of deaths in recent weeks including over 100 in Portland, Oregon where temperatures reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit on June 28th. Studies estimate that living in high … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces the SHADE Act to Combat the Environmental Impacts of Redlining
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Saving Hazardous and Declining Environments Act (SHADE Act). This legislation would create a grant program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to plant trees in formerly redlined districts graded “hazardous” and “definitely declining” by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) and other overburdened communities. Redlining, a discriminatory housing policy developed by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation … Continue Reading
June 15, 2021
Reps. Watson Coleman and Bush Introduce Federal Bill to Decriminalize Drug Possession, Replace with Health-Centered Approach
Today, ahead of Thursday’s 50th Anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s declaration of the “war on drugs,” Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Cori Bush (MO-1) introduced the Drug Policy Reform Act (DPRA), a bill to end criminal penalties for drug possession at the federal level and to shift regulatory authority from the Justice Department to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill would also expunge existing records and provide for resentencing, reinvest in … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Reps. Watson Coleman, Pallone, Sires and Espaillat Lead Introduction of Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) along with co-sponsors Congressmen Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Albio Sires (NJ-8) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) reintroduced the Handgun Licensing and Registration Act of 2021. This legislation would overturn an outdated 1986 law to build a framework of commonsense standards for handgun ownership in the United States by creating a federal licensing and registration process for gun ownership with minimum requirements that: the person seeking … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Congresswoman Watson Coleman Leads Bipartisan Letter Calling on Attorney General Garland to Reverse Justice Department Legal Memo Set to Return Prisoners on Home Confinement to Prison
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), along with a bipartisan group of 29 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to reverse a legal memo issued in the waning days of the Trump administration that would require thousands of people on home confinement to return to federal prison. In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act, which authorized the Attorney General to give people in federal prison extended home confinement … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Uncover the Truth of January 6th Attacks, Establish Independent, Bipartisan Commission
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted for H.R. 3233, legislation to establish an independent, bipartisan 9/11-type commission to examine and report upon the facts, causes and security relating to the terrorist mob attack on the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021. The Commission would also be charged with making recommendations to prevent future attacks on our democracy. “January 6th was one of the darkest days in our nation’s history,” said Watson Coleman. “It was … Continue Reading
May 17, 2021
Watson Coleman Introduces Filer Voter Act to Aid Americans in Registering to Vote
Today, on Tax Day, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Filer Voter Act to make it easier to register to vote. The bill would allow voters to register to vote when they file their taxes. Forty-nine states require Americans to register to vote. One of the best ways to make it easier for people to register to vote is to create more opportunities for people to easily access voter registration forms. Much like the “Motor Voter Law” of the 1990s that allowed voters to … Continue Reading
May 12, 2021
House Passes Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act on a Wide Bipartisan Basis
Today, by a vote of 349-74, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1475, the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and introduced by Watson Coleman and Rep. John Katko (NY-24) to address the disparities in access, care and study of mental health issues among people of color. The bill, written following nine months of work by the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, … Continue Reading
May 11, 2021
Watson Coleman sends letter to Secretary of State Blinken Regarding Violence in Jerusalem
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sent the following letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on the State Department and the Biden Administration to address the issue of accountability and our goals in the pursuit of peace in Jerusalem, hold responsible those who violate the rights of protesters and worshipers and to examine a proactive approach to peace: Dear Secretary Blinken, May 11, 2021 I am writing to express my deep concern at … Continue Reading
May 11, 2021
Watson Coleman Reintroduces the Healthy MOM Act to Add Special Enrollment Period for Pregnant Mothers
On the heels of Mother’s Day, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) re-introduced legislation to expand healthcare options for expectant mothers. The bill, the Healthy Maternal and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act, would ensure that all women eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces, as well as women eligible for other individual or group health plan coverage, can access affordable health coverage throughout their pregnancies. The bill would … Continue Reading