Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement Commemorating Juneteenth
Washington, D.C. (Wednesday, June 19, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement commemorating Juneteenth: “Today marks 159 years since the news of emancipation finally reached enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 — more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. “The news was delivered by Union soldiers who fought their way to the furthest reaches of the confederacy, bringing with them news of … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Jared Moskowitz Introduce the Capitol Dog Relief Act
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) introduced the Capitol Dog Relief Act. The Capitol Dog Relief Act would require the designation, design and construction of at least one dog relief area on Capitol grounds. “Each day we come to work protected and supported by the many pups of the Capitol,” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. “Whether it’s the K-9s keeping campus safe by sniffing out threats that humans can’t detect, or the office dogs providing a welcome … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement on Supreme Court Mifepristone Ruling
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine: “We should celebrate that the Supreme Court did not take this opportunity today to further restrict access to safe and effective medication abortion. But we are not out of the woods yet. “The Court ruled only that the anti-abortion advocates who brought the case did not have standing to do so. It left open the very likely possibility that … Continue Reading
June 12, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Bill to Reduce Homelessness and Housing Instability Among Young People
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Homes for Young Adults Act. The bill would create a new entitlement under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 — the Housing Choice Voucher program — specifically targeted at young people who are unstably housed or experiencing homelessness. Housing Choice Vouchers are the largest federal housing assistance program, but only one in four eligible Americans actually receive that assistance. The Homes for Young Adults Act … Continue Reading
June 10, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Sends Letter to HUD Encouraging Adoption of New Rule Reducing Barriers to Affordable Housing for Justice-Impacted People
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) led 15 of her House colleagues in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) encouraging the adoption of a proposed rule that would end the practice of rejecting or evicting tenants from public housing, or HUD-subsidized housing, solely on the basis of criminal conviction. According to the Sentencing Project, as many as one in three adults in the United States — up to 100 million Americans — have interacted with the criminal … Continue Reading
June 06, 2024
Reps. Watson Coleman, Kim, Menendez Send Letter to Justice Department Discouraging Support for Private Migrant Prison Contracts
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Andy Kim, and Rob Menendez sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, following up on a previous letter from August of 2023, expressing serious concern over the Department of Justice’s support for the Elizabeth Detention Center, a privately-owned facility contracted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants in Newark. The letter also encourages the Justice Department to refrain from formally supporting a separate ICE contract … Continue Reading
June 06, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement Regarding Updated Travel Schedule for June 2024
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding an update to her travel schedule: “Last Friday I began experiencing pain in my lower back. I consulted with my doctor, who determined the pain was due to lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition in which the space between one’s spine and spinal nerves tightens, creating pressure and causing discomfort. “Yesterday, I met with a specialist who determined the best course of action is an operative procedure. I am … Continue Reading
June 03, 2024
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman Introduce Fully Funded Federal Jobs Guarantee Program
Today, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) introduced the Workforce Promotion and Access (WPA) Act. The WPA Act would establish a fully-funded federal jobs program, targeted to support communities with exceptionally high unemployment rates. The program would be fully paid for by a 0.1% tax on Wall Street stock trades. The jobs encompass a wide range of important community services, including infrastructure, child care, elder care, and health … Continue Reading
May 31, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement in Support of Permanent Ceasefire Plan Laid Out by President Biden
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the pathway to a permanent ceasefire laid out by President Biden this afternoon: “I strongly support the pathway to a permanent ceasefire laid out by President Biden this afternoon. It is reasonable, it is tenable, it is necessary for lasting peace to take hold. Crucially, it sets the foundation for rebuilding Gaza — an issue I have been raising since the early days of this conflict, when I first called for a … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Safe Evacuation of Dr. Adam Hamawy From Gaza
Dr. Adam Hamawy, a resident of South Brunswick, NJ and a retired U.S. Army combat surgeon who had been volunteering at the European Hospital in southern Gaza, near the city of Rafah, was safely evacuated earlier today. Dr. Hamawy served in Iraq, and performed surgery on Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), after her helicopter was shot down. She credits him with saving her life. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the safe evacuation of Dr. Adam Hamawy … Continue Reading
May 01, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Antisemitism Awareness Act
Washington, DC (Wednesday, May 1, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding her vote on the Antisemitism Awareness Act: “Today, my decision to vote against the Antisemitism Awareness Act is rooted in the belief that concrete, bipartisan efforts are essential to combatting the rising threat of antisemitism. I recognize the urgency of addressing hate in all its forms, and for this reason I cannot support legislation that lacks substantive … Continue Reading
May 01, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman, Senator Booker Reintroduce CROWN Act to Fight Racial Discrimination
Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2024) - Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Summer Lee (PA-12) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) announced the reintroduction of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act in the House of Representatives, a bill to outlaw discrimination on the basis of hair texture. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) also announced reintroduction of the CROWN Act in the … Continue Reading
April 26, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Campus Protests
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding anti-war protests on college campuses across the country and in New Jersey's 12th District. “No matter your faith or background, the right to freely practice your religion and the right to protest unite us as Americans. Our Founding Fathers recognized that these rights were essential to a healthy democracy and placed both in the First Amendment. “Agitators who seek to co-opt the recent student-led protests … Continue Reading
April 25, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman, County Executive Benson Announce $4.1 Million Funding for Trenton-Mercer Airport Taxiway
Ewing, NJ (April 25, 2024) - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann, and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora announced that Trenton-Mercer Airport secured $4,116,279 in the most recent federal appropriations bill. A press conference was held today at the airport in Ewing, NJ. The funding, allocated throught he Community Funding Project and coordinated between Congresswoman Watson Coleman and Mercer County will support a full … Continue Reading
April 24, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.
Ewing, NJ (Wednesday, April 24, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement on the tragic passing of her friend and colleague, Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. “I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear friend Donald Payne, Jr. Like myself, Don came from a family legacy of public service and we bonded over discussions of our trailblazing fathers. “I cherish the 10 years I had the honor of working with Don on issues important to us such as access to child … Continue Reading
April 23, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Applauds FTC Vote to Ban Non-Compete Agreements
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) commended the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) decision to issue a nationwide ban on new non-compete agreements. The new rule comes after Rep. Watson Coleman joined a letter, led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), to FTC Chair Lina Khan, encouraging the commission to restrict non-competes. “This is a big win for American workers,” said Rep. Watson Coleman, “The prohibition on new non-compete agreements will … Continue Reading
April 20, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Foreign Aid Funding Package
Washington, D.C. (Saturday, April 20, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted on a series of foreign aid bills to support our allies in the Indo-Pacific; send desperately-needed aid to Ukraine as they fend off Russian aggression; provide humanitarian aid to people suffering around the world; and to impose economic sanctions on Russia and Iran. Rep. Watson Coleman issued the following statement: “In October of last year, I called for a three-pronged approach to foreign aid in … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Partisan GOP Stunt to Exploit Mid-East Crisis
Washington D.C. (April 16, 2024) - Today, as House Republicans brought forth yet another messaging bill that fails to address the urgent crisis in the Middle East, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) made the following statement on House Resolution 883: "Antisemitism is a threat to our communities here and abroad and should be addressed in concrete ways in order to protect our Jewish neighbors. But, continuing to vote on non-binding messaging resolutions to score partisan political … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman Introduces Gig Is Up Act to End Exploitation of Gig Workers
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Gig Is Up Act, which would push companies to treat gig workers fairly. The bill would require companies with at least $100 million in revenues, and that employ at least 10,000 independent contractors, to pay for both the employer’s and the worker’s payroll tax contributions to Social Security and Medicare. Under the current system, the gig worker must pay for both. This new requirement for large companies would create an … Continue Reading
April 12, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Votes No on FISA Reauthorization
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted “No” on the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). “As a former member of the House Homeland Security Committee I understand the importance of giving our intelligence services the tools they need to keep Americans safe," said Rep. Watson Coleman. "However, the failure of the House to pass a bipartisan amendment intended to close a loophole and prohibit warrantless searches of U.S. person communications in … Continue Reading