Press Releases
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement on First Muslim Heritage Month in New Jersey
Washington, D.C. (January 31, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement honoring New Jersey’s first observation of the newly established Muslim Heritage Month: “This January we observed New Jersey’s inaugural Muslim Heritage Month, a time to celebrate New Jersey’s Muslim communities, and uplift the many contributions of Muslim Americans to our shared culture here, and across the country. “It is important to acknowledge, as we look back on this first annual … Continue Reading
January 26, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement on the passing of Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson: I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson who passed away this morning after injuries he suffered while responding to a house fire on Emerson Avenue. The tragic loss of Firefighter Hudson is one that has been felt across District 12 and throughout our state - and is a solemn reflection of the dangers our first responders face … Continue Reading
January 22, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade: "Today marks the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Until 2022, this was cause for celebration, as a landmark decision for reproductive freedom. Now, it’s a solemn day of mourning and reflection. "Since Roe was overturned, 21 states have either severely restricted abortion access or banned it outright, denying one in three women across the country a … Continue Reading
January 17, 2024
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman Introduces Resolution Commemorating 60th Anniversary of War on Poverty
Washington, D.C. (January 17, 2024) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, along with Rep. Barbara Lee, introduced a resolution commemorating the 60th anniversary of the War on Poverty. The landmark initiative — a cornerstone of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society — established a series of programs to support struggling Americans, leading to a 30 percent decline in poverty in the first five years after some of its key policies were adopted. Despite the promise shown by these measures, … Continue Reading
January 08, 2024
Watson Coleman Swears-In Historic Slate of Elected Officials in New Jersey
Ewing, NJ (January 8, 2024) - Last week, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman swore in an historic slate of diverse elected officials across New Jersey. Among those the Congresswoman administered the oath of office to were Highland Park’s first Black woman mayor, New Jersey's first Sikh woman mayor, and the first Haitian-American to serve on the Plainfield City Council. “I was honored last week to administer the oath of office to an historic array of elected officials who reflect the diversity … Continue Reading
January 06, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Issues Statement on Third Anniversary of January 6th Attack on Democracy
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement on the 3rd anniversary of the January 6th, 2021 attack on democracy that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol: “Three years have passed since the assault on the U.S Capitol that took the lives of five Capitol Police officers and threatened to end American democracy as we know it. Among the lives lost to the violence of that day was that of Officer Brian Sicknick, a native of New Jersey’s 12th District. My prayers are with … Continue Reading
January 04, 2024
Rep. Watson Coleman Swears In Neena Singh as Mayor of Montgomery Township
This evening, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) attended the Montgomery Township Reorganization Meeting and administered the oath of office to new Mayor Neena Singh, Deputy Mayor Vincent Barragan and Committeewoman Patricia Taylor Todd. Mayor Singh had previously served as Deputy Mayor and Township Committeewoman. Singh has lived in Montgomery for 24 years and is the first Sikh Woman to be elected to local office in New Jersey. As an executive officer at STAND Central NJ (a … Continue Reading
January 04, 2024
Watson Coleman Leads Delegation in Letter to Gov. Murphy, Commits to State and Federal Partnership in Compassionate Response to Migrant Busing
Earlier today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy, committing to work together on an efficient and compassionate state, local and federal response to the recent drop-off of migrants in New Jersey. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne, Jr. and Robert J. Menendez also signed on to Rep. Watson Coleman’s letter. As part of an ongoing, shameful, and inhumane series of political stunts, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other southern governors are exploiting … Continue Reading
December 20, 2023
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Holds Tele-Town Hall
Yesterday, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman held a tele-town hall to hear from neighbors and share updates about her work in Congress and the District on behalf of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District constituents. Congresswoman Watson Coleman began the town hall by discussing her work to lower costs and upgrade and improve infrastructure across the district including protecting the Delaware River, improving road conditions, and working with the Army Corp of Engineers to protect … Continue Reading
December 19, 2023
Reps Ramirez, Watson Coleman, Underwood, Jacobs, Introduce Resolution Honoring 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and Condemning Hate Crimes
Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), joined by Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51), introduced a resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian boy, murdered as a victim of a hate crime for his Palestinian Muslim identity, in the State of Illinois. The resolution affirms that no one should be a target of hate because of their ethnicity or religion and strongly condemns hate crimes, Islamophobia, antisemitism, … Continue Reading
December 18, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces $400,000 Grant for Roadway Safety Action Plan in Plainfield
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced that the City of Plainfield has been awarded $400,000 as part of the Safe Street and Roads for All Grant. The award will help Plainfield develop its Roadway Safety Action Plan. The Safe Street and Roads for All Grant was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in 2021. “I’m pleased to announce the awarding of $400,000 in grants … Continue Reading
December 13, 2023
REP. WATSON COLEMAN INTRODUCES RESOLUTION DENOUNCING HATE AND BIGOTRY IN ALL ITS FORMS
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), anounced the introduction of a resolution denouncing hate in all of its forms. The resolution condemns all representations of discrimination including, racism, islamophobia, antisemitism, transphobia, heterosexism, homophobia, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, ableism, and ethnic or religious bigotry. “This resolution comes at a critical time when incidents of violence and harmful behavior have been on the rise,” said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson … Continue Reading
December 12, 2023
Watson Coleman, Brown Reintroduce the Healthy MOM Act to Add Special Enrollment Period for Pregnant Mothers
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the reintroduction of legislation to expand healthcare options for expectant mothers. The bill, the Healthy Maternal and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act, would ensure that all women eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces, as well as women eligible for other individual or group health plan coverage, can access affordable health coverage throughout their pregnancies. The bill would do … Continue Reading
December 05, 2023
Reps. Kean and Watson Coleman’s One Seat Ride Act Passes House
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the One Seat Ride Act (H.R. 1547) 356 - 61. The One Seat Ride Act, led by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and cosponsored by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), would direct the Secretary of Transportation to analyze various obstacles to implementing single-seat trips on certain commuter passenger rail services during ‘peak hours,’ including ‘one-seat-ride' trips on New Jersey’s Raritan Valley line. Currently, Raritan Valley Line … Continue Reading
December 05, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on House Resolution 894
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement regarding her vote on House Resolution 894: The rising threat of antisemitism and the hateful rhetoric that accompanies it is deeply upsetting and must be addressed in a concrete way. It is unfortunate that the Republican resolution H.Res. 894 does nothing but create a more divisive environment during what is already an emotionally charged time. This resolution offers no solutions. The Republicans who authored it have no … Continue Reading
November 14, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Commemorate 250 Years of the Nation's Independence
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act. The bipartisan and bicameral bill, part of the nation’s planned Semiquincentennial celebration, would authorize the Architect of the Capitol to create a time capsule and have it buried on the west lawn of the Capitol, to remain sealed until July 4, 2276, the nation’s 500th Anniversary. The contents of the time capsule will be determined by the offices of the Speaker of the … Continue Reading
November 03, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on House Resolution 798
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement regarding her vote on House Resolution 798: I’m deeply disturbed by the sharp rise in anti-semitism in recent years and particularly since the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7th and the resulting hostilities. In recent weeks, I’ve spoken to Jewish leaders in the 12th District and beyond about the fears of members of the Jewish Community. Our Jewish neighbors are scared. They are worried for the safety of … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Watson Coleman Leads Bipartisan Effort to Defeat Effort to Defund Delaware River Cleanup
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) led a bipartisan effort to defeat an amendment by Congressman Scott Perry to defund the Delaware River Basin Commission. The amendment would have defunded the DRBC in response to its work protecting the Delaware River basin from high volume hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking.” Since its creation by President Kennedy in 1961, the Delaware River Basin Commission has helped clean up what was once one of the most polluted rivers in the … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Watson Coleman Statement on Rising Hate, Islamophobia, and Anti-Semitism
"As I’ve been working with my colleagues to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, I have also made time to listen to the experiences and needs of many of our Muslim and Jewish community leaders during this devastating time. "Two things have been made abundantly clear: the bloodshed of innocents caught in this war must stop so that we can focus on facilitating a lasting and peaceful solution; and we must secure the safety of our Muslim and Jewish neighbors right … Continue Reading
October 19, 2023
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Bipartisan Bicameral Legislation to Improve Youth Mental Health Outcomes
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Youth Mental Health Research Act. This legislation will create a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative to guide long-term mental health recovery efforts, better target preventive interventions for those at risk of developing mental health challenges, and improve treatments for children. "Mental healthcare is essential care. The crisis of youth mental health struggles existed … Continue Reading