Press Releases
Watson Coleman and Beyer Introduce Legislation Honoring Fallen Officer Brian Sicknick
U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Don Beyer (VA-8) today introduced bipartisan legislation to honor United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died from wounds received in the line of duty while defending the U.S. Capitol from attack on January 6th, 2021. Beyer, who represented Sicknick in the House, and Watson Coleman, who represents much of Sicknick’s family, introduced a bipartisan House Resolution honoring Sicknick’s life and sacrifice as … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
Watson Coleman Votes to Impeach President Donald Trump
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump for incitement of insurrection. She released the following statement: A week ago, violent insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, causing physical damage to the building, threatening the Vice President, Members of Congress and their staffs and killing a U.S. Capitol Police Officer as he bravely fought to keep them at bay. It was an attack on the symbol of our government, the peoples’ … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
In Case You Missed It: Watson Coleman Calls Out Republican Colleagues in OpEd for COVID Malpractice and Inability to Acknowledge Facts
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman published an OpEd in the Washington Post calling out Republican colleagues for their refusal to wear masks and acknowledge facts, leading to the endangerment of the public and their peers. "Over the past day, a lot of people have asked me how I feel. They are usually referring to my covid-19 diagnosis and my symptoms. I feel like I have a mild cold. But even more than that, I am angry. I am angry that after I spent months carefully isolating … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Watson Coleman Applauds Progress for Gateway Project
Washington, DC (January 12, 2021) — Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) entered a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFA) on the Portal North Bridge project, allowing this critical piece of the broader Gateway plan for improvements to move forward. “It’s no mistake that our entire region keeps saying the same thing about the Gateway Project - it is essential for … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Watson Coleman Receives Positive Coronavirus Test Following January 6 Capitol Lockdown
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) received a positive rapid antigen test result for COVID-19. She believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of insurrectionist riots. As reported by multiple news outlets, a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear masks. “I received a positive test result for COVID-19, and am home resting at this time. While I am experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, I remain in good … Continue Reading
January 08, 2021
Watson Coleman Statement on the Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement following the death of US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick: What happened to our Capitol on Wednesday, overrun and terrorized by violent and misguided insurrectionists, will be one of our nation’s darkest days, and the death of Officer Sicknick has made it that much more of a loss. Officer Sicknick gave his life defending my colleagues and Capitol staff and in turn our American democracy. I will be forever … Continue Reading
January 04, 2021
In Case You Missed It: Watson Coleman Calls Out Hudson County for Continued Use of ICE Contracts
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman published an OpEd in the Newark Star-Ledger calling out Hudson County for renewing its contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold immigrant detainees and highlighted the contradictions that arise when the justice system, and prisons in particular, operate with a profit incentive. You can read the OpEd in its entirety here: We Cannot Condone the Monetization of … Continue Reading
December 31, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement today after news that Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro, a veteran and longtime public servant, had passed away: It’s with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Mayor Gerald Tamburro. Mayor Tamburro’s two decades of service to Monroe, first as a city council member then as mayor, are a testament to his commitment to his community. I had the pleasure of working with Jerry since I became a member of … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Watson Coleman, Pallone, Kim, Pascrell Secure One-Year Reprieve for Sandy Victims, Vow to Keep Fighting
Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Bill Pascrell (NJ-09) today announced a one-year delay in recoupment efforts for debt owed to the federal government in relation to Superstorm Sandy has been included in the year end federal spending bill. These recoupment efforts known as “clawbacks” have blindsided homeowners because many New Jersey residents applied for loans and benefits offered by various federal programs based on the federal … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Watson Coleman Votes for Additional Coronavirus Package, Calls for More Direct Relief Payments
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after voting to pass parts of H.R. 133 - the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 - legislation to provide Coronavirus relief. “This is not the bill I wanted, and it’s not the bill struggling families, struggling businesses, and a nation being ravaged by the latest wave of the coronavirus deserve. I’m deeply disappointed that this is all that Congress can muster — and that real relief, including aid for … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Watson Coleman Urges Incoming Administration to Extend Work Authorizations for H4 Visa Holders
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman released a letter signed by 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging President-elect Joseph R. Biden to unilaterally extend the expiration work authorization documents for holders of H4 visas, the majority of whom are highly skilled women of color and active contributors to the economies of New Jersey and the country. Changes made during the tenure of President Donald J. Trump to the way these documents are processed have led to … Continue Reading
December 09, 2020
Watson Coleman elected Vice-Chair At-Large of Congressional Progressive Caucus
On Tuesday, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) was elected by fellow members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to serve as Vice-Chair at Large. Congresswoman Watson Coleman will bring her extensive experience as a progressive legislator in both the New Jersey State Assembly House and Congress to the executive board. The Congresswoman will focus on the legislation needed to help get everyday Americans “from the first of the month to the end of the month.” Her … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Watson Coleman, Menendez, Booker, Murphy Announce $18.3 Million to Upgrade Trenton Transit Center
U.S. Senators Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate’s transit subcommittee, and Cory Booker, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.-12), member of the Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Governor Phil Murphy today announced that NJ TRANSIT has been awarded an $18,281,313 Federal-State Partnership State of Good Repair Program grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make major upgrades to the Trenton Transit Center. The … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on the Deaths of Two Trenton Youth
In response to the deaths of eight-year-old Johnny and sixteen-year-old Gustavo Perez in Trenton on Tuesday Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement: "My heart aches for the family of Johnny and Gustavo and for the entire Trenton community that has lost so much this year. We've seen violence, and especially gun violence, rise across the country compounding the havoc brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. We must be vigilant against both while providing aid to … Continue Reading
September 29, 2020
House Passes Legislation to Reduce Mental Health Care Disparities for Youth
(September 29, 2020) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5469, the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, legislation authored by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman 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, authorizes $805 million in grants and other funding to support research, … Continue Reading
September 25, 2020
Watson Coleman Leads DeLauro, Barbara Lee on Bill to Lower Diaper Costs for Families
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 introduction of the Improving Diaper Affordability Act during Diaper Need Awareness Week 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. … Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Booker Introduces Bill to Prevent Automotive Insurance Discrimination
Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a bill to ensure insurance companies use only driving records in determining car insurance rates and eligibility. The Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act, or PAID Act, would end the use of income, education levels, and other factors unrelated to driving history and ability, preventing insurance companies from using these details to raise rates for low income individuals, non-homeowners, and others who otherwise have good driving records. … Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Watson Coleman, DeLauro, García Introduce Expanding Representation at HHS Act of 2020
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) today introduced the Expanding Representation at HHS Act of 2020 to establish an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion within each covered agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This legislation would require the head of each covered agency within HHS to take constructive positive steps to seek diversity in the workforce, including in the following … Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on U.S. Department of Education Investigation of Princeton University
In response to the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that it would investigate Princeton University for “admitted racism” after Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber denounced the school’s history of systemic racism, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) issued the following statement: “While it’s hard to be surprised by the law- and logic-defying audacity of this administration in what will hopefully be its last days, this is an impressive lack of reasoning. … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on the Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement upon on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “I am heartbroken to learn that we’ve lost Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a giant, contributing to legal scholarship for over half a century from her time as a law professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School. She was an advocate for women’s rights, and a living legend of women’s leadership. “Justice Ginsburg was one of the … Continue Reading