Press Releases
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
September 15, 2020
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