Press Releases
Watson Coleman Responds to President's Request for Border Wall Funding
WASHINGTON, DC (December 11, 2018) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) issued the following statement after the President and Vice President met with Democratic Leadership about the approaching government budget shutdown. "What we saw today was a President, someone who considers himself “a leader,” throwing a tantrum when told he couldn’t get everything he wants. As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I take border security very seriously. However, it is in … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018
Watson Coleman Responds to Sunday’s Incident at US-Mexico Border
EWING, NJ (November 26, 2018) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) issued the following statement after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents fired tear gas at refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. at the San Ysidro border crossing. “Yesterday was a dark day for America. Donald Trump sanctioned the use of teargas on hundreds of men, women & children at the U.S. border to further bolster his own lies and grandstanding about the nature of these people and their … Continue Reading
November 05, 2018
Menendez, Watson Coleman and New Jersey Democrats Release New Report on the Impact of President Trump’s Tax Law on New Jersey Homeowners
Today, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ-09), Albio Sires (NJ-08), and Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released a new report from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee documenting the tremendous financial burden of the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on current and prospective New Jersey homeowners. According to the report, approximately 2,035,000 homeowners … Continue Reading
October 29, 2018
Watson Coleman Statement on Racially Motivated Shootings in Pittsburgh and Kentucky
Following the shooting of two African Americans outside of Louisville, Kentucky last week and Saturday’s mass shooting at the Pittsburgh-area Tree of Life Synagogue, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) issued the following statement: “Gun violence of every kind has become a plague in this country, but there is a deeper and more sinister darkness that follows hate crimes. My heart breaks for the congregation at Tree of Life, and I join countless Americans lifting prayers of comfort and … Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Watson Coleman Leads Congressional Call for Mnuchin to Cancel Saudi Arabia Trip
In a letter sent today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) led 11 members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to cancel plans to attend Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative conference in light of concerns that the Saudi government is responsible for the alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. “Considering the seriousness of the accused crimes, we need to review the details surrounding the incident before moving forward in our … Continue Reading
September 28, 2018
Watson Coleman Bill Would Give Raises to American Workers
In an effort to incentivize corporate practices that will grow wages for those below the C-suite, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today introduced the Employee Profit-Sharing Encouragement Act, legislation that would require companies with more than $25 million in annual earnings to set up profit sharing plans in order to be eligible for certain tax breaks. The Employee Profit-Sharing Encouragement Act would bar companies that meet the threshold of $25 million in earnings from … Continue Reading
September 26, 2018
From Bonnie: My Health, and a Reminder that Healthcare Should Be an American Value
My core belief in equality is one of the reasons I first decided to run for Congress. My belief that we all deserve a fair shot extends to every corner of the things that shape our lives, including the notion that your income, social status, occupation or lack of an occupation should not determine your access to quality, affordable healthcare. The fight for that access recently became a deeply personal commitment when my doctor found a small, irregular spot on one of my lungs during a routine … Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Watson Coleman Seeks Economic Security for Students, Caregivers with New Bill
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) introduced new legislation that seeks to address growing economic divisions by making caregivers and students pursuing higher education or advanced degrees eligible to receive the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC Modernization Act of 2018 would increase financial stability for these two groups, while also making innovative updates to the EITC program. “We know that the economy isn’t working for people, we know that wages are stagnant, … Continue Reading
September 04, 2018
House Passes Watson Coleman Bill Authorizing TSA Support Force that Facilitated TSA Sandy Recovery Operations
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the TSA National Deployment Force Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee which formally authorizes the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) National Deployment Force (NDF), ensuring the continued work of the NDF and allowing for congressional oversight of its activities. TSA’s NDF program is a volunteer force of … Continue Reading
July 24, 2018
Watson Coleman, Khanna Focus on Jobless Workers with New Bills
Washington, DC (July 24, 2018) - Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) each introduced legislation to ensure that every jobless worker in the country is given the opportunity to earn a living. Despite the low official unemployment rate, 8 million Americans who want work cannot find jobs. Meanwhile, nearly 4.7 million Americans who want full-time work can only find part-time jobs. Reps. Watson Coleman and Khanna have each introduced legislation that would take real … Continue Reading
July 05, 2018
Watson Coleman Calls for Heightened Congressional Scrutiny Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit
Recently we learned that President Trump is planning on holding one-on-one negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet in Helsinki on July 16. In the midst of an ongoing investigation into Russia’s meddling into US elections - one which has already led to more than 20 indictments—such a meeting is profoundly inappropriate and dangerous. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (Chaired by Republican Richard Burr) has confirmed the U.S. Intelligence community’s … Continue Reading
June 27, 2018
Watson Coleman Statement on SCOTUS Decision Overturning Legal Precedent in Janus v. AFSCME
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision to overturn years of legal precedent and upend laws in 22 states, including New Jersey, placing new limits on collective bargaining: “The past two days have demonstrated the tremendous impact of the political games Mitch McConnell played to steal Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court seat. Today’s decision ignores decades of legal precedent to undermine the rights and fair pay of … Continue Reading
June 26, 2018
Watson Coleman Statement on SCOTUS Decision Upholding Muslim Ban
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Ranking Member of the Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision to uphold President Trump’s Muslim ban: “We will look back at today’s Supreme Court ruling in Hawaii v. Trump as a deeply shameful moment in our country’s history. The United States was founded as a nation of immigrants. The base of the Statue of Liberty, just a few … Continue Reading
June 26, 2018
Watson Coleman Urges Support for Research and Education on PrEP with New Resolution
Ahead of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) has introduced a resolution supporting additional research and public education efforts on the usage of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals at risk of contracting HIV. H.Res. 960 calls on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a department-wide review of the outreach efforts of all HIV prevention programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure their information … Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
Watson Coleman Requests Votes in Lieu of Moment of Silence for Trenton Mass Shooting
In a letter sent today to House Speaker Paul Ryan, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) requested recognition for victims of Sunday’s shooting at the Art All Night festival in Trenton in the form of votes on gun violence prevention legislation instead of observing a moment of silence on the House floor. “After the tragedies that have claimed lives in cities across the country, most recently Las Vegas, Parkland, Santa Fe, and Sutherland Springs, we tend to stand quietly in the midst of … Continue Reading
June 17, 2018
Watson Coleman Statement on Shooting at Trenton Art All Night
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement on the shooting at the Art All Night festival in Trenton: “I am saddened and angered at the violence that took place at Art All Night early this morning, and I am praying for all of the families involved, but as I’ve said before, that’s not enough. After every shooting, we talk about motive, mental illness and every other distraction from the real problem — guns. “New Jersey has some of the strongest gun safety … Continue Reading
June 13, 2018
Amid Congressional Action on Opioid Epidemic, Watson Coleman Introduces Resolution Acknowledging the Failures of the War on Drugs
As the House prepares to vote on more than 20 bills aimed at fighting the opioid epidemic over the next two weeks, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) announced a resolution that seeks parity in the treatment of drug use and addiction and a formal apology for the War on Drugs. H.Res. 933 expresses the sense of Congress that the War on Drugs failed, and calls out the disparate treatment of individuals criminalized for drug use — frequently people of color who used crack and cocaine — to ensure … Continue Reading
April 24, 2018
Reps. Watson Coleman, Pallone, Sires and Espaillat Lead Introduction of Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) joined co-sponsors Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Albio Sires (D-NJ) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) to announce the Handgun Licensing and Registration Act of 2018. This legislation would overturn an outdated 1986 law to build a framework of commonsense standards for handgun gun ownership in the United States by creating a federal licensing and registration process for gun ownership with minimum requirements that: The person seeking gun … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on the Passage of Omnibus Spending Package
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement after voting against the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) omnibus spending bill: “Congress has passed the buck on immigration time and again, even as this administration has taken continuous, aggressive and harmful action against hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including Dreamers who’ve known no other country than this one. I made a commitment that I would not support a funding package until we addressed the glaring shortcomings … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Rep. Watson Coleman Bill to Improve Transit Security Passes the House
The House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) that would improve security for soft targets in transportation, including rail and bus transit. H.R. 5131, The Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2018, would protect vital transportation modalities and the people who rely on them. “Surface transportation systems are absolutely vital to the daily lives of millions of Americans. Given their critical importance, it is no … Continue Reading