Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Offers to Help Kean, Van Drew, and Smith Explain to Their Constituents Their Votes to Cut Medicaid
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) challenged New Jersey’s three Congressional Republicans to defend their votes to cut Medicaid from children and seniors in their districts in order to give a tax break to the wealthiest Americans. “News has emerged that Republicans across the country are cancelling their town halls after blowback from constituents following cuts to vital services," said Watson Coleman. "My Republican colleagues must justify their votes to cut healthcare for … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Corrupt Trump Decision to Reopen Private Prison in New Jersey
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration is reopening a private prison in New Jersey: “The decision by the Trump Administration to reopen a private prison in New Jersey smacks of corruption. The company that manages the prison donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Trump’s campaign. In fact, it was the first corporation to max out its donations to his campaign before going on to give even more money to his … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Senator Booker Reintroduce CROWN Act to Outlaw Race-Based Hair Discrimination
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) reintroduced the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act in the House of Representatives. The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair texture.Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced companion legislation in the upper chamber. Twenty-seven states and dozens of cities nationwide have passed their own … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Bill to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with Time Capsule Passes House
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) celebrated the passage of her bill, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act, out of the House of Representatives. The bipartisan legislation authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to create and bury a time capsule on the west lawn of the Capitol, where it will remain until America’s 500th birthday on July 4, 2276. “I am thrilled that my bipartisan legislation to commemorate America’s 250th Birthday with a time capsule has passed the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Reps Watson Coleman, Kelly Send Letter to NIH About Cuts to Programs for Adolescent HIV Research, Prevention, and Care
Yesterday, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Robin Kelly (IL-02) sent a letter to National Institutes of Health Acting Director Matthew J. Memoli expressing concern about the recent suspensions of programs for adolescent HIV research, prevention, and care. Acting Director Memoli has interpreted Trump Administration executive orders as targeting a study to examine ways to prevent HIV infections. The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative (EHE) was begun in 2019 under the … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on House Republican Vote to Gut Medicaid and Cut Taxes for Billionaire Donors
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to advance a budget that cuts Medicaid, raises healthcare costs for working families, and lays the groundwork for trillions of dollars in tax cuts for billionaire GOP donors: “This budget is a huge rip off for working families across America. It lays the groundwork to cut funding for Medicaid, nutrition assistance, consumer protections, and much more - all in the name of forcing through … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Congresswoman Watson Coleman Visits Local Head Start
North Brunswick (February 21, 2025) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and her staff visited a Head Start facility in North Brunswick to meet with local students and educators directly impacted by President Trump’s funding freezes and proposed budget cuts. The facility is part of a Head Start program serving over 1000 children at eight Middlesex and Monmouth County locations. “What I’m hearing from organizations like Head Start is that if the lawsuits to unfreeze … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Kean, Watson Coleman Re-Introduce the ‘One-Seat-Ride Act’
Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) re-introduced the One Seat Ride Act, a bipartisan bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of a one-seat-ride trip versus a transfer trip option during “peak hours” on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line. “Long, inefficient rush-hour commutes mean lost time at kids' sporting events and missed family dinners for countless households in our area,” said Congressman Kean. … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Reps. Watson Coleman, Menendez, McIver Lead Bicameral Charge Against Expansion of Private ICE Detention in New Jersey
Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) continued their efforts to protect immigrant communities and prevent the expansion of private immigration detention centers in New Jersey. Together with Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim and Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Frank Pallone Jr.(NJ-06), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), the Representatives led a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Fights Republican Budget Rip-Off During Marathon Markup Session
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and her Democratic colleagues on the House Budget Committee excoriated shameless Republican attempts to rip off the American people with a budget proposal that would cut support for working families while doling out a multi-trillion dollar tax cut to the very richest Americans and adding $4.5 trillion to the national deficit. “All day long, I listened to my Republican colleagues talk about how concerned they were about the national debt. But not … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Black History Matters Act
Today, Representative Watson Coleman introduced the Black History Matters Act; legislation directing the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to conduct a study of the quality and efforts of Black history education in public elementary and secondary schools. This study aims to assess the requirements of Black history education in public elementary and secondary schools and the quality of these curriculums based on indicators such as in-class discussions, … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Hosts Tele-Town Hall Amid Hostile Government Takeover by Unelected Billionaire
Tonight, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) held a Tele-Town Hall with constituents from New Jersey’s 12th District to address concerns over unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s hostile government takeover. More than 7,500 people participated in the Tele-Town Hall. [WATCH HERE] During the Tele-Town Hall, Rep. Watson Coleman answered questions on Elon Musk’s infiltration of the Treasury Department, Trump Administration plans to dismantle the Department of Education, impacts of federal … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Bennie Thompson, Don Beyer, Jamie Raskin, & Family of USCP Officer Brian Sicknick Hold Press Conference Condemning January 6th Pardons & DOJ/FBI Purges
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Bennie Thompson, Don Beyer, Jamie Raskin and the family of USCP Officer Brian Sicknick held a press conference condemning Donald Trump’s pardons of violent criminals who assaulted police officers and attacked the Capitol on January 6th, 2021. The press conference participants also condemned recent orders from the Trump Administration to purge the FBI and DOJ of nonpartisan career prosecutors simply because they worked on the January 6th cases. Video of … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Unelected Billionaire’s Hostile Takeover of Federal Government
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued a statement regarding an unelected billionaire infiltrating the federal government and initiating a hostile takeover aimed at weakening the United States against our foreign adversaries, with whom this billionaire has significant financial interests. “Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire donor, has mounted a hostile takeover of the federal government. “This is an astonishing display of corruption. A billionaire CEO, who was not appointed or confirmed, … Continue Reading
February 03, 2025
Reps. Menendez,Watson Coleman, McIver Make Unannounced Visit to Elizabeth Detention Center
Today, Representatives Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) made an unannounced visit to the Elizabeth Detention Center, the state’s only operational privately contracted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) detention center. Their visit followed an increase in ICE activity in New Jersey and the region as a result of President Donald Trump’s renewed attacks on immigrant communities. In January, ICE agents conducted a raid in Newark, … Continue Reading
January 31, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Working Class Tax Cut Bill
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the EITC Modernization Act, which would cut taxes for low- and middle-income families. “The very richest people in this country can afford to hire accountants and attorneys who exploit every loophole and back door to avoid paying what they owe in taxes,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “Meanwhile, honest, hard-working families pay a far greater share of their total wealth in taxes, supporting the public services that all Americans — rich or poor … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Trump Eliminating Funding for Cancer Research, Suicide Prevention, Home Heating Assistance, Other Programs
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued a statement today following the news that Trump has, in apparent violation of the Constitution, unilaterally decided to choke off funding for all federal grant programs across the United States. “Americans are the hardest workers in the world. So much of that hard work ends up lining the pockets of billionaire investors who now want to cut home heating assistance, cancer research, suicide prevention and other programs we've fought for instead of paying what … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement After Unconstitutional ICE Raid in Newark Sweeps Up Innocent Veteran
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after reports surfaced of an ICE raid in Newark, during which lawful U.S. citizens were detained without warrant, including a U.S. Military veteran. “Warrantless searches, jackbooted thugs, veterans detained. After pardoning violent insurrectionists, Trump orders ICE agents to detain and harass innocent people, including a veteran who served our country. This is the reality of Trump’s reign of terror, but it’s not the America … Continue Reading
January 21, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Trump Executive Orders and Pardoning of Violent January 6th Insurrectionists
Today, Rep. Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the slew of executive orders President Trump signed last night, as well as his disgraceful decision to pardon violent insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol and assaulted police officers on January 6th, 2021. “Last night, President Trump immediately broke his promise to bring down costs for working families. Among the many executive orders he signed, was a reversal of a program that capped prescription drug prices. … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Cecile Richards
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement on the tragic passing of Cecile Richards. “My heart is broken to learn of the loss of Cecile Richards, a dear friend and an unwavering champion for reproductive freedom and the rights of women across the country. “As President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile fought relentlessly to protect access to reproductive healthcare. After the fall of Roe, she fought fiercely to restore that freedom where it could be restored, and … Continue Reading