Press Releases
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
July 21, 2021
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