Press Releases
Watson Coleman, Malinowski Introduce Bill to Ensure Full Reviews of Proposed Pipelines
Today, Congressmembers Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Tom Malinowski (NJ-7) announced the introduction of the Safe and Accountable Federal Energy Review for Pipelines Act of 2021 (H.R. 2115). The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has for years relied on outdated private agreements to determine whether to approve future natural gas pipelines, failing to comprehensively evaluate or consider duplicate, competing or contiguous pipelines and their impact on local environments. … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Reps. Pressley, Watson Coleman, Omar Re-Introduce Bold Legislation to End School Pushout of Girls of Color
Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), re-introduced the Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma (Ending PUSHOUT) Act, bold legislation to end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools and disrupt the school-to-confinement pathway. The Ending PUSHOUT Act acknowledges the harmful ways in which Black and Brown girls are … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Watson Coleman, Lee, Pressley, Omar, Moore Press for Support from VP Harris on Passage of the CROWN Act in Both Chambers This Congress
Today, Congressmembers Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced the reintroduction of The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act in the House of Representatives, simultaneously releasing a letter sent to Vice President Kamala Harris urging her to use her platform as the first Black woman to hold that office to help ensure the bill reaches the President’s desk this Congress. … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Watson Coleman, Payne Introduce Resolution to Recognize the Impact of Colorectal Cancer on the Black Community
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) introduced H.Res. 242, a resolution acknowledging the horrific impact colorectal cancer has on the Black community and that the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force needs to reduce the age of screening for this cancer. Colorectal Cancer, or CRC, is the third most common cancer in the United States for men and women combined, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death. On average, CRC takes more … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman voted to pass H.R. 1620, a bipartisan, long-term Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. The landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ushered in transformative progress by calling for the protection of all Americans from violence and abuse, and working to ensure all victims and survivors have the support they need. This critical reauthorization will safeguard and further strengthen these life-saving protections for women throughout New Jersey … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Watson Coleman, Malinowski Call on Biden Administration to Reverse its Stance Supporting PennEast Pipeline
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Tom Malinowski issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court defending PennEast’s ability to seize land owned by New Jersey for pipeline construction. “We are disappointed that the U.S. Department of Justice has submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in which it defends the PennEast Pipeline Company’s efforts to exercise eminent domain to seize public lands. We agree with the State of … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Watson Coleman, Katko Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Racial Disparities in Mental Health Coverage
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congressman John Katko (NY-24) announced the reintroduction of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act (H.R. 1475). The Act was originally introduced in 2019 following a report from the Congressional Black Caucus’s Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health chaired by Congresswoman Watson Coleman. The report - “Ring the Alarm: the Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America.” - outlined the state of Black youth mental … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Watson Coleman, Tlaib, Takano Introduce Legislation to End Discrimination in Automobile Insurance Rates
Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and Mark Takano (CA-41) reintroduced a bill to ensure insurance companies use only driving-related factors in determining car insurance rates and eligibility. The Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act, or PAID Act (H.R. 1270), would end the use of income, credit score, education levels, and other factors unrelated to driving history and ability, preventing insurance companies from using these details to raise … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Watson Coleman Announces Tele-Townhall on COVID Vaccine Safety and Distribution
Washington, DC (February, 22nd 2021) - U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced that she will host a tele-townhall this Thursday February 25th, 2021 at 6:30pm. The townhall, featuring state officials and local, will offer constituents the chance to raise concerns about the safety of both vaccines currently available, and provide an opportunity for frank discussion about misconceptions associated with it in an effort to increase trust, particularly among communities that have … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Pallone, Watson Coleman, Beyer Lead Request for Memorial Tree at U.S. Capitol in Honor of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick
Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Don Beyer (VA-08) led a request to the Architect of the Capitol for a memorial tree on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in commemoration of the late United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. “A memorial tree would serve as a representation of Officer Sicknick’s unwavering commitment and tremendous sacrifice to our nation. Specifically, we would like to request that a tree native to both New Jersey and … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Rep. Watson Coleman Leads Letter to Acting Attorney General Calling for Consistency in Prosecution of January 6th Insurrectionists
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) lead 13 Members of Congress in a letter to Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson calling for the Department of Justice to consistently and appropriately weigh in on requests for bail and other pretrial processes in the cases of perpetrators of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Many of those who have been and will be charged in the assault on the Capitol are the clearest possible version of a public threat, yet have been … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Watson Coleman Votes to Pass Budget Resolution
Washington DC (February 3, 2021) - Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to pass H. Con. Res. 11, FY 2021 Budget Resolution. Passing this budget ensures that Congress can act quickly and decisively in the weeks to come to deliver the robust relief that American families, workers and communities need to combat the coronavirus pandemic and strengthen the economy. “For over a year, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis have destroyed Americans lives and livelihoods, and the … Continue Reading
January 29, 2021
Watson Coleman to Chair House Committee on Homeland Security's Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced today that she will serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Watson Coleman has served on the Committee on Homeland Security since first joining Congress in 2015. The Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee has legislative jurisdiction over the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as well as oversight of the US Coast Guard. Subcommittee … Continue Reading
January 28, 2021
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