Press Releases
Watson Coleman Calls for Investigation and Resignations Following Reports of Forced Hysterectomies at ICE Facility
Congresswoman Watson Coleman, a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, today demanded the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia be shut down immediately while an investigation is undertaken into allegations of mass hysterectomies being performed on non-consenting detainees. A number of news agencies reported last night that a whistleblower at the facility, run by a private prison firm LaSalle South Corrections, revealed that female detainees were routinely given … Continue Reading
September 11, 2020
Watson Coleman Responds to Reports Treasury Department Secretly Withheld Millions from FDNY 9/11 Health Program
Congresswoman Watson Coleman expressed outrage following a New York Daily News report that the Treasury Department withheld over $3 million dollars from the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program, a program established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. The fund, created in 2010 and extended in 2015 and 2019, is meant to cover medical services for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics treated for 9/11 related illnesses incurred during rescue and cleanup efforts in lower … Continue Reading
September 03, 2020
The Future of Housing, Panel Three of Securing the American Dream for Working Families
Today, U.S. Rep Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) convened the third panel of Securing the American Dream for Working Families, a three-day conference in partnership with Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Deb Haaland (D-NM). The Future of Housing, hosted by Rep. Ilhan Omar, featured Nelima Sitati Munene, Executive Director of Acer INC; Thomas Silverstein, Counsel, Fair Housing and Community Development Project; and Tara Raguveer, Homes Guarantee Campaign Director. Topics covered included a housing … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
The Future of Wealth, Panel Two of Securing the American Dream for Working Families
Today, U.S. Rep Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) convened the second panel of Securing the American Dream for Working Families, a three-day conference in partnership with Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Deb Haaland (D-NM). The Future of Wealth, hosted by Rep. Haaland, featured Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark, NJ; Vanessa Roanhorse, CEO Vanessa Roanhorse Consulting; Anna Aurilio, Federal Campaign Director, the Economic Security Project. Topics covered included universal basic income, the racial wealth gap, … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Watson Coleman Urges House Support for Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), announced the introduction of the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act of 2020, 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. “Many policy makers have been looking at this pandemic as a once-in-a-lifetime crisis, and while that may be … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Rep. Watson Coleman hosts the Future of Work, Panel One of Securing the American Dream for Working Families
Today, U.S. Rep Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), led the first panel of Securing the American Dream for Working Families, a three-day conference in partnership with Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Deb Haaland (D-NM). The panel, titled the Future of Work, featured Eddie S. Glaude Jr, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University; Pavlina R. Tcherneva, Associate Professor of Economics at Bard College and Research Scholar at the Levy Economics … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
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-06), and Andy Kim (NJ-03) 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. Many homeowners who received relief funds have been required to repay some or all the funds, creating a financial burden during a time of economic crisis. “America came together after Superstorm Sandy to help New … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Watson Coleman Applauds Passage of her Child Care is Essential Act in the House
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman applauded the passage of the Child Care is Essential Act, legislation she introduced alongside Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. The bill will create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund within the existing Child Care and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Sanders, Watson Coleman Lead 14 Senators and two dozen Representatives in Introducing Masks for All Act to Curb Deadly Coronavirus Surge
As COVID-19 infections continue to surge across America and nearly 30 states impose public mask-wearing requirements, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and over three dozen of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate and House introduced lifesaving legislation today to manufacture and distribute high-quality, reusable masks to everyone in America.Senate co-sponsors of Sanders’ Masks for All Act include Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Homeland Security and Governmental … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Watson Coleman, Blumenauer, Bonamici, 12 other Members of Congress Call for the Resignation of DHS Acting Secretary Wolf
Today, U.S. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, delivered a letter signed by 15 Members of Congress, to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security calling on him to immediately resign from his position. Following the recent actions of unidentified federal agents in Portland, Oregon in which they disrupted lawful, constitutionally protected protests and appear to have violated the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendment protections of … Continue Reading
July 18, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Congressman John Lewis
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement today after news that Congressman John Lewis, civil rights leader and Congressman from Atlanta, Georgia, has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer. "When I came to Congress, one of my greatest joys was the opportunity to serve alongside John Lewis. Just seeing him in a meeting or on the House floor brought me awe and appreciation. I have said this over and over, but he is one of my heroes, and without him … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Watson Coleman, Pallone, Kim Support Inclusion of Community Disaster Loan Cancellation in House Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) Frank Pallone (NJ-06) and Andy Kim (NJ-03) applauded the inclusion of language in the Fiscal Year 2021 House Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would extend the opportunity for institutions that received Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Superstorm Sandy to have those loans cancelled. The language would also extend cancellation to CDLs received in the current COVID-19 public health … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Watson Coleman, Pallone, Kim Applaud Fix to Sandy Relief Funds in House THUD Appropriations Bill
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) Frank Pallone (NJ-06) and Andy Kim (NJ-03) issued the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee agreed to an amendment from Watson Coleman that would allow the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to waive recoupment of disaster relief provided to families after Superstorm Sandy. Families may qualify for waivers if the recipient has died, if they were defrauded, filed for bankruptcy or experienced foreclosure, or received assistance … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Watson Coleman, Pascrell, Sires Announce Extension of Hurricane Sandy Funds
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Bill Pascrell (NJ-9), and Albio Sires (NJ-8) announced the extension of the expiration date for funding to rebuild and ensure resilience in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. $15 million from the National Disaster Resilience Competition, $230 million for a project across Hoboken, Weehawken and Jersey City, and $150 million for a project in the Meadowlands area slated to expire in 2022 will now remain accessible until 2025 under language included in the … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Watson Coleman, Omar Introduce Bill for Direct Job Creation As Millions Continue to Reel from Coronavirus Unemployment
July 2, 2020 - Today, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) announced the introduction of (H.R. 7477) the Workforce Promotion and Access (WPA) Act, legislation aimed at getting more Americans back to work in living-wage jobs created directly by the federal government. The bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Labor to create a job guarantee program through grants to states, localities and tribal entities where unemployment is greater than 10% OR double the national … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on Justice in Policing Passage in the House
Washington, DC — Following the passage of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) issued the following statement pointing out the urgent need for the measure, and the bill’s comprehensive transparency and accountability reforms. “This country is finally waking up to the realities of life for Black Americans: constant, systemic, and built-in biases, massive disparities from health to wages, and a … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Watson Coleman to Trump on Executive Order: “We Know What We Need and This Isn’t It.”
Following news that President Donald Trump would sign an executive order on policing practices, after weeks of inaction, violent orders to clear protestors, and comments that encouraged police aggression against peaceful demonstrators, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement: “There’s been a chorus of voices calling out the ineptitude, backward thinking and dereliction of duty Trump has shown in his handling of the national outcry for justice for Black people. To spend … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Watson Coleman Statement on Nationwide Protests in the Wake of George Floyd’s Death
Following overnight protests and violence in the wake of the death of George Floyd as a result of excessive police force in Minneapolis, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) issued the following statement: “Every single person, in Minneapolis and well beyond, who has taken to the streets in the wake of the filmed murder of George Floyd has done so because they understand that Black people are not safe. We are not safe when we go for runs, like Ahmaud Arberry. We are not safe when we are in our … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
DeLauro, Scott, Murray, Watson Coleman, Members Introduce $50 Billion Child Care Stabilization Fund Legislation
Wednesday, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, introduced new … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Watson Coleman Votes for the Heroes Act
Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2020) - Today, Congresswoman Watson Coleman applauded the passage of H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, legislation that makes emergency supplemental appropriations related to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. “Over the past weeks, my office has been bombarded with phone calls from families who’ve lost work, who are trying to keep their businesses afloat, who are worried about the risks of reporting to their next work shift. As these calls for help have poured in, I’ve urged … Continue Reading