Watson Coleman’s work in the House centers on her belief that, in the United States of America, there’s a floor below which we should never allow any child, any family, any person to fall. Knowing that millions struggle every day just to make ends meet from the first to the last of the month, her legislative work seeks to bridge the gap for these Americans, making sure that the richest nation in the world doesn’t allow millions to live below the poverty line; doesn’t allow vulnerable groups to suffer the fallout of environmental violations; doesn’t allow profit margins to define the standards or the motivations for incarceration; and doesn’t allow bias to push everyday needs like car insurance out of reach for working families.
I firmly believe every American is entitled to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. To obtain the American Dream and to close the wealth inequality gap, Americans need to be paid a living wage. I have been a lead advocate for the "Raise the Wage" campaign to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey, and I am committed to helping every American provide a decent life for their families. Recently, New Jersey legislators came to an agreement to raise the states' minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour. Working and middle-class Americans deserve tax reforms that benefit them and assist them as they strive to improve their financial situations. That's why I introduced the Earned Income Tax Credit Modernization Act to increase financial stability for caregivers and students pursuing higher education and advanced degrees. I have also sponsored the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act which assists in the recovery of stolen wages and wage theft and prevents wage and hour violations. This has been an issue that I've worked to address to help ensure financial stability and equity within work places.
Since the burst of the housing bubble, housing markets have been unstable and foreclosures rates have risen. Homeowners expect their homes to be long-term investments, and to use the equity generated to help with education, retirement, and other large expenses. The loss of a family's home undermines the stability, health and economic vitality of neighborhoods. Foreclosures also result in abandonment and deterioration of property, which creates additional pressures on local governments and the federal government and depresses home values in the surrounding community. When I served in the New Jersey Legislature, I sponsored the New Jersey Stabilization Fund. These bills sought to shield homeowners from scams by foreclosure consultants and to generate funds to help with legal services costs faced by people in danger of losing their homes. I will continue to fight to create strong and healthy communities by helping Americans to stay in their homes.
Housing is a human right, and every unhoused American is a person whose country has failed them. As part of my fight for strong and healthy communities, I have cosponsored the Keep Your Home and Prevent Homelessness Act (H.R. 2292). This bill advocates for about $2 billion to be distributed to homeowners, renters, and individuals experiencing homelessness during the housing crisis. I have also put more efforts into affordable housing, cosponsoring the Affordable Housing and Area Media Income Fairness Act of 2022. This act is working to increase the supply of, and lower rents for, affordable housing and to assess calculations of area median income for purposes Federal low-income housing assistance, and for other purposes. This is all in efforts to ensure the equitable and accessible housing for all communities.
Modernizing our nation's infrastructure and emphasizing innovation are critical to getting our economy back on track. Government investment in infrastructure projects, such as updating transit systems and bridges, would help create jobs for thousands of Americans. I am actively supporting the Gateway Project to increase rail capacity between New York and New Jersey because it will bring thousands of jobs to New Jersey and ease traffic for commuters. To further improve employment across the country post-pandemic, I have cosponsored the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 (H.R. 7309). This gives more funding and expands programs revising workforce investments, vocational rehabilitation, employment, training, and literacy programs.
In addition to funding infrastructure, I support strongly investing in research and development. Spurring innovation in systems like healthcare, banking and telecommunications will incentivize the development of new technologies that could improve the lives of many Americans. To keep high-paying jobs in industries like trade and manufacturing in America, we must negotiate trade agreements that are fair to American workers and create tax codes that incentivize investment in our economy.
At the start of the 116th Congress, I was appointed to the Appropriations Committee to help set funding levels for federal departments, agencies, and programs. As the former Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee in the New Jersey General Assembly, I am honored to serve on this critical Committee. The decisions made in the Appropriations Committee are a direct representation of our national values. We put our values on display when we make decisions on where our resources go. What we find important becomes evident in the choice between purchasing more military equipment or adequately funding the EPA inspectors that ensure our communities have clean water and air, and whether we repair our roads and invest in infrastructure or pay for grants for oil and gas companies to find new ways to drill and damage our environment. In the 117th Congress, I will continue to fight for the values my constituents elected me to represent — the needs of working families, the protection of our environment, and policies that advance fair economic growth.
As a public servant, I am uniquely positioned to advocate for accessible, high-quality education for our nation's children. I am committed to providing every child with the opportunity to go to school in an inclusive, safe, and engaging environment that encourages critical, independent thinking and prepares students for fulfilling professional careers. With Congressional support today, we can foster a positive, empowering education system for the future of our country.
For example, as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I expressly requested and secured funding for the 2023 budget for a revitalization of the East Brunswick Public Library as a center of community and learning.
Furthermore, I am cognizant of the extent to which education enables economic mobility as well as personal and professional freedom. As a result, it is critical that all young scholars have access to opportunities that will allow them to accomplish their goals. In support of this belief, I have long championed accessibility by sponsoring and supporting legislation that uplifts at-risk children and families. For example, I've cosponsored the Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma (Ending PUSHOUT) Act (HR 2248), which seeks to end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools and disrupt the school-to-confinement pathway.
It is for this reason that I have championed the fight against racial disparities in our education system affecting children's experiences and their ability to immerse themselves completely in their school work and social lives. For example, I have been proud to sponsor the CROWN Act (H.R. 2116) as well as a resolution Acknowledging the racial disparities in diagnosing and treating mental health among youth in communities of color (H.Res. 480).
Quality education in the United States is one of our most fundamental rights. I will remain committed to removing systemic barriers to the enjoyment of this basic freedom as long as I remain in office.
Throughout my career, I've advocated strong protections for our environment. Whether it is fighting for clean air and water regulations, pushing for green energy innovation, protecting our wildlife and natural resources, or addressing the threat of climate change, fighting for our environment has been one of my top priorities.
I am a member of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC), whose mission is to advance policies that promote renewable energy and green collar jobs, protect our nation’s natural environment, and address global climate change. I cosponsored the Energy Security and Independence Act of 2022 (H.R.7439) to reduce American dependence on fossil fuels and protect Americans from volatile and expensive energy prices. This bill would invest in domestic clean energy production through the Defense Production Act and bolster renewable energy manufacturing through grants and benefits for taxpayers. These funded projects would additionally create green jobs protected by high labor standards. Access to affordable, clean energy is a right that all Americans deserve and one that I am committed to securing.
Climate change is a crisis that affects everyone, and its impacts have already changed the lives of millions of Americans. For this reason I introduced the Stay Cool Act (H.R. 7949), a package of proposals to address the increasing threat of extreme heat; the first to address surface temperatures. Heat threatens the quality of lives of all Americans, but the intensity and impact of heat on communities varies. Unfortunately, communities of color and low-income communities are at higher risk than their white, wealthier counterparts — often subject to urban heat islands and health complications that turn fatal. This bill will ensure that all Americans have access to heat-safe housing, and fund research to protect against and reverse the effects of climate change. Protecting the health of my constituents, and the most vulnerable in our society, is of the utmost importance to me and I will continue to fight for a livable and safe future for the next generation.
I have also co-sponsored a number of other environmental bills, including the Environmental Justice for All Act (H.R. 2021) which would establish several environmental justice requirements and programs to address the disproportionate adverse human health or environmental effects of federal actions on communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities.. The League of Conservation Voters has given me a 97% lifetime rating.
Protecting the environment is in the best interests of New Jersey. Climate change will have a devastating impact on the residents of New Jersey and the numerous vital industries that make our state so important to the nation. Steps must be taken to protect our state’s ecosystems and ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations.
In a nation as wealthy as ours, an individual’s financial resources should not be a barrier to living a long, healthy life. Yet too often, Americans forgo essential medical treatment because they cannot afford it. Our for-profit healthcare system has turned health care into a privilege for those who can afford it, rather than the basic human right that it truly is.
Americans deserve a fair shot in all aspects of life. That means that your income, socioeconomic status, or employment status should not determine whether or not you can access quality health care. For that reason, I cosponsored the Medicare for All Act, which would guarantee health care as a human right. Specifically, this legislation would expand health coverage to all Americans for medically necessary care, including primary care, maternity care, hospital visits, and dental and vision care. Under this universal plan, medical devices, lab services, and prescription drugs would also be covered.
Passing the Medicare for All Act is not only the government’s moral obligation — it’s also fiscally responsible. Under our current system, the United States spends more on healthcare per person than any other advanced nation in the world, yet millions of Americans still are unable to access medical care. Today, nearly 10 percent of all Americans are uninsured and therefore unable to afford the care they need to live. Americans deserve a healthcare system in which they are not forced to choose between life-saving care or avoiding bankruptcy. Private insurance corporations have no right to determine which Americans live or die.
To guarantee the right to health care for all, we must prioritize equity. As a cofounder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, I have worked diligently to craft policy that invests in culturally competent care. Women, especially Black women, have unique health care needs that require special focus and attention. Medical care that takes these needs into account should be a necessity, not a luxury. For that reason, I’ve made it my mission to author legislation that advances health equity. My Healthy MOM Act, for instance, would create a special health coverage enrollment period for expectant mothers, ensure comprehensive coverage of maternity care for dependent children, and guarantee a year of continuous Medicaid eligibility for postpartum mothers. Our nation has a maternal health crisis, and Black and Indigenous women suffer at disproportionate rates. My legislation would address this crisis head-on by ensuring that underserved mothers receive the care they need.
My commitment to health equity extends beyond physical health. In 2019, I launched and chaired the Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health. Our report found alarming increases in suicide rates among Black youth, in part due to racial disparities in access to essential mental health care. The report was a stark call to action for me. In direct response to the Taskforce’s findings, I authored the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, which would invest in all aspects of our mental healthcare system. That means not just funding additional mental health research, but also creating stigma-shattering community outreach programs and directly addressing racial disparities in access to care by building a larger, culturally competent care workforce.
The fight to secure health care as a right is personal to me. When my doctor found a cancerous tumor on my lungs during a routine visit, I shared the fear that many Americans face. Fortunately, I had treatment options that saved my life. Millions of Americans don’t have those options. My lived experience is proof that disease has no regard for status, wealth, race, or sex. Illness does not discriminate, and neither should access to care.
Americans deserve to live healthy lives that are not jeopardized by partisan politics. Health is necessary to guarantee our nation’s promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am a living representation of the benefits of quality health coverage. It’s long past time we secured those benefits for all Americans.
Ours is a nation of immigrants. The Statue of Liberty features the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus,” which reads in part:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Our nation has welcomed immigrants both because we recognize the promise they bring and because we have a moral obligation to serve our fellow human beings. Immigrants live in our communities, learn in our schools, and pray in our churches. They work and pay taxes. They are Americans in every sense except on paper. Giving them a fair chance to obtain legal citizenship status is only right. For this reason, I endorse any and all legislation that supports immigrants as they pursue the American Dream.
In 2012, President Obama brought forth the DACA program, bringing the United States one step closer to living up to its reputation as a land of opportunity. Under DACA, undocumented immigrants brought here as children are protected from deportation for two years, giving them an opportunity to obtain legal status.
President Trump sought to end DACA without an alternative in place, putting the status of 700,000 people into limbo. Meanwhile, his administration attempted to construct a border as a symbol of xenophobia — a symbol costing American taxpayers up to $46 million per mile.
Fortunately, President Biden halted construction of Trump’s hateful border wall and attempted to reinstate DACA. However, a federal judge in Texas blocked DACA from accepting new applications. This is unacceptable — DACA or an equivalent must be fully restored and made permanent. That’s why I’ve cosponsored the American Dream and Promise Act to codify much of the DACA program.
Immigrants risk everything in pursuit of better lives for their families and preventing them from doing so stands in direct opposition to the ideals of our nation. We must strive for more.
As a nation founded on the principles of freedom and equality, our laws and government should treat every American fairly — regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, or any other quality. Unfortunately, those founding principles have not always been applied consistently to women, people of color, immigrants, and many other groups. To ensure that our nation lives up to its ideals, we must ensure that our laws, our justice system, and every other part of our government offers equal rights and protects them for all Americans.
The United States prides itself on being “the land of the free,” yet our incarcerated population is the highest in the world. With over 700,000 people entering prisons each year and an additional 9 million Americans going through local jails, prisons are overcrowded, and incarcerated people do not receive the resources needed to ensure a smooth transition into society. As a result, 67.8% of ex-convicts re-enter prison within three years. Our criminal justice system prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation and is in desperate need of reform.
Throughout my career as a public servant, I have been committed to fixing our broken criminal justice system. As the Majority Leader in the New Jersey State Assembly, I sponsored a legislative package that enables formerly incarcerated individuals to safely enter the workforce after completing their sentencing. This historic piece of legislation has become a blueprint for legislative efforts concerning prison re-entry nationwide.
My dedication to criminal justice reform has continued throughout my time in Congress. In 2021, I introduced the End For-Profit Prisons Act to eliminate financial incentives for over-incarceration. Additionally, I introduced the Drug Policy Reform Act, which would finally end the War on Drugs by directing the government to treat substance use as a health issue, not a criminal issue. I’ve also co-sponsored the MORE Act, which would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level.
With a focus on rehabilitation, recidivism reduction, and racial justice, I am working to build a system where the rule of law applies to all Americans equally. Our criminal justice system was built on a foundation of white supremacy, and while significant progress has been made, much work remains to be done to ensure that ours is a nation in which justice is truly blind. The NAACP reports that one out of three Black boys and one out of six Latino boys can expect to be incarcerated in their lifetimes. Furthermore, as evidenced by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and subsequent police killings of Black Americans, simply existing while Black can dangerous. Policing is deeply intertwined with the carceral system, and we must dismantle the structural racism present in both institutions. To that end, I launched and serve as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force. I’m committed to making our justice system work for all Americans and ensuring that Black lives matter not just to civil rights advocates, but to our nation’s most powerful institutions.
As the only branch of government with the ability to create laws, Congress has a vital role to play in protecting our civil rights. I’m using my position as a legislator to stand up for all Americans, especially those from communities the government has historically abandoned. As a public servant, I consider it my moral obligation to do everything in my power to advance the centuries-long struggle for civil rights and bring our nation closer to fulfilling its great promise.
The recent rise in attacks on the LGBTQ+ community has made it painfully clear that Congress must do more to guarantee equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. To ensure that LGBTQ+ Americans receive equal protection under law, Congress must codify the right to marriage equality, strengthen anti-discrimination laws to cover sexual orientation and gender identity, and do everything in its power to fight anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry at home and abroad.
I’ve been committed to LGBTQ+ equality since my days in the New Jersey State Assembly, where I was proud to cast my vote to legalize same-sex marriage. Soon after I came to Washington, I joined the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and joined 211 Members of Congress in filing a brief with the Supreme Court in support of a constitutional right to marriage equality. Although the Court decided marriage equality was a constitutional right in 2015, today’s far-right Court threatens to reverse that decision. For that reason, I am an original cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would prevent the Court from stripping away that right by writing marriage equality into federal law.
The fight for equality extends beyond marriage. LGBTQ+ Americans face discrimination across nearly all aspects of life. Currently, the law allows stores, restaurants, and other public facilities to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. The same protections that exist for other protected classes do not exist for LGBTQ+ Americans, and that is unacceptable. I introduced the Customer Non-Discrimination Act to ban discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in public facilities. I’m also an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, which would ban anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in education, employment, housing, and more.
While the entire LGBTQ+ population faces discrimination in their daily lives, LGBTQ+ youth are among the most vulnerable. In our current moment, some of the most powerful elected Republicans in the country have embraced legislation that directly targets LGBTQ+ students’ right to exist as their authentic selves. We cannot allow their attempts to erase progress to succeed. I cosponsored the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, which would put an end to the hateful practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. I voted to ban this practice in New Jersey, and I hope Congress follows suit. Additionally, I cosponsored the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, which would require colleges and universities to develop policies to combat homophobia and transphobia on campus.
The right to love who you love without fear of persecution is non-negotiable. I will not stop fighting until that right is guaranteed to all Americans. It is my mission as a public servant to ensure that the arc of American history bends toward harmony, not hatred.
As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I am committed to domestic defense against threats both external and internal, and in doing so ensuring the maintenance of our hard-won freedoms. For example, in the wake of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol, I have supported the pursuit of truth so that our democracy will become more secure against domestic threats and all those seeking to disrupt the lawful processes of our government.
The rise of gun violence in this country has to be met in Congress by a rare unity of spirit. The tragedies of the racially-motivated Buffalo, New York shooting that left ten dead, the loss of nineteen children and two teachers to a school shooter in Uvalde, Texas, the untimely deaths of four in a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma—these indescribable losses can have no adequate redress but the swift passage of legislation designed to take and keep military-grade weapons out of the hands of criminals.
I'm proud to cosponsor legislation in the House to ban semiautomatic weapons from being sold to citizens under 21 in the Protecting Our Kids Act (H.R. 7910), though the low likelihood of it's passing the Senate has encouraged me to sponsor my own legislation providing comprehensive gun control recommendations: the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2021 and the Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2021. The first of these bills tackles the shadowy online markets in which guns are bought and sold to unvetted individuals, and the latter prohibits the sale of silencers and mufflers. I have also sponsored the Handgun Licensing and Registration Act of 2021 (H.R. 4166) As a legislator, as an American, and as a grandparent, I understand it to be my duty to do everything in my power to stop these heinous crimes.
Protecting and honoring the men and women who defend our freedoms, both current members of the military and veterans, is the least that I can do in gratitude for their service. I'm to sponsor the Fallen Heroes Flag Reauthorization Act of 2022 (H.R. 8050) to honor those who have given their lives for the values and preservation of the United States. Furthermore, to protect those currently serving, I have long expressed support for legislation that gives women servicemembers legal protections against sexual violence and malpractice. Ensuring the equitable treatment of all those who generously dedicate their lives to altruistic military service is of paramount importance to me.
Acknowledging the massive spending dedicated to our nation's defense, I support the People Over Pentagon Act of 2022 (H.R. 8040) to streamline the defense budget not out of disregard for the needs of our military but out of concern for the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. I will always urge good governance, oversight, and efficient use of resources in policymaking, and in reallocating defense funds for domestic purposes allows us to effectively prioritize issues of national security such as the rise in domestic terrorism and cybersecurity.
Elder Americans have spent their lifetimes working hard and supporting their communities, big and small. That is why I strongly believe we have a responsibility to protect and support the health, welfare, and security of all our senior citizens.
Necessary medical programs and opportunities provided to seniors are often difficult to navigate, and force them to wait to access the care they need. Many health insurers require providers to obtain prior authorization for certain treatments. When overused, it can serve as an administrative burden that ultimately delays care. That is why I am proud to cosponsor the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R.3173). This bill would improve care for seniors by streamlining and standardizing the way Medicare Advantage Plans use prior authorization, and additionally increase transparency.
After spending much of their lives in the workforce, our seniors deserve comprehensive and fair social security benefits. I am a cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 (H.R. 82), which would repeal provisions that actively reduce Social Security benefits. This bipartisan measure would ensure those receiving government pension and disability benefits do not lose out on Social Security as a result.
I'm proud to cosponsor legislation designed to protect the security of underserved groups. One such bill is the Ruthie and Connie LGBTQ Elder Americans Act of 2022 (H.R. 7993), an amendment to the Older Americans Act of 1965. This necessary bill would protect LGBTQ+ identifying elders who are at an even greater risk of discrimination or harassment.
Respect is the least we can do for the elderly of this country and I am committed to do so through support for further legislation that protects their health, welfare and security.
Before serving in the New Jersey Assembly and US Congress, I worked for the New Jersey Department of Transportation as the Director of the Office of Civil Rights. While addressing transportation challenges in New Jersey, safety, equity, and economic growth were among my top priorities. As your Congresswoman, it is an honor and a privilege to continue promoting those values while serving you in Washington.
I serve on the House Appropriations Committee and am New Jersey’s only congressional appropriator in either house of Congress. My work on that committee includes serving on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, where I remain committed to addressing the safety and needs of the most vulnerable Americans. I will always fight to ensure that the Department of Transportation receives the necessary funding to ensure safety on our roads and rails.
I also serve as Chair of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. In 2022, I introduced the Securing Air Travel Act. With gun seizures at airports on the rise, my bill would keep our skies safe by imposing minimum monetary penalties for repeated violations at TSA checkpoints. Additionally, in 2018, I introduced the Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2018, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to address emerging threats to our surface transportation system.
Our transportation policies should benefit all Americans, so I make sure to prioritize equity in my legislative work. In 2019, I introduced the Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act to stop auto insurers from considering discriminatory, non-driving-related factors when reviewing applications for insurance. I vow to continue fighting for transportation legislation that puts safety first and benefits all communities.
Our armed service members put their lives on the line for our country and they deserve to be taken care of when they return home. Too often, veterans return to a country that is not adequately prepared to help assimilate them back into civilian life. Many veterans are not able to receive the healthcare – both mental and physical – they need. As a member of both the Medicare for All and Military Mental Health Caucuses, I have been on the front lines of Congress fighting to guarantee our veterans the healthcare that they need.
To that aim, I am a proud cosponsor of the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022 (H.R.6411), to help support the mental resilience of our nation's veterans through mental health outreach programs, and ultimately ensure they do not lose the fight at home. This legislation gives the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) important new authorities and resources to support veterans’ mental health and well-being through increased training, outreach, mental health care delivery, and research in line with the Committee’s public health approachand President Biden’s strategy to address veteran suicide.
I've also voted for the PACT Act (H.R.3967), comprehensive legislation that seeks to address the full gamut of issues impacting toxic exposed veterans’ access to earned benefits and care.
Over 50 years ago, Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act to ensure that all Americans have access to the foundation of our democracy, the right to vote. Yet today, we find ourselves moving backwards. The Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted some of the federal protections of the Voting Rights Act, opening the door for state governments to impose voting restrictions that disproportionately affect low-income individuals, minorities, and young people.
I’ve often watched, horrified, as voters are forced to stand in outrageous lines at their polling places. States across the country have cut back on early voting hours, absentee ballots, and mail-in ballots, which will only make voting more difficult. These issues, coupled with Voter ID laws, present barriers to the ballot that put unacceptable restrictions on people's right to vote.
How can we hold ourselves up as a model of democracy when, instead of expanding and guaranteeing voting rights to all qualified voters, we seek to strip that right away? Instead of embracing every possible opportunity to protect and improve our democracy, we’re allowing it to crumble.
It is more urgent than ever that Congress pass legislation that reinstates the protections of the Voting Rights Act and protects the rights of voters everywhere. I co-sponsored H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to preserve Americans’ access to the ballot, reduce the influence of money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants and H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to prevent further infringements on the right to vote. I’ve also introduced the Filer Voter Act, which increases access to the voter registration process by allowing Americans to register to vote when they file their taxes.
Of the many tasks Congress has, protecting the democracy that countless Americans fought to build must be at the top of the list. While protecting election integrity is important, no law should infringe upon Americans’ basic right to vote. I will always fight for legislation that protects the hard-fought gains of the civil rights movement and breaks down barriers to the ballot box.
“I am a woman. Hear me resist!” I said it at the Women’s March and I’ll say it again. Every issue is our issue, whether it’s healthcare, education, worker’s protection, environmental protection, a woman’s right to choose, civil rights, or LGBTQ rights. These are our rights and we will not be silent, deterred, or shut out. I will continue to stand in solidarity with all the strong women and allies as we demand equal rights, access to affordable health care and contraception, protections for our Dreamers, and more!
It’s obvious to me: women should receive equal pay for equal work. I have continued to fight for fair pay, paid leave, and against harmful bills—including the GOP Tax Bill—that threaten the prosperity of all New Jerseyans.
All woman should have health care coverage, especially during pregnancy. As a mom, I feel strongly that all mothers deserve the best care that doesn’t break the bank. That is why I authored the Healthy MOM Act, which would allow women to enroll in, or change their health coverage if they become pregnant.
No politician should be allowed to dictate the conversation that happens between a woman and her doctor. I remain a steadfast defender of choice and have been awarded top ratings by Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America, and have been endorsed by the National Organization for Women.
Women of color should have a voice and seat at every table. I co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls - the first House caucus dedicated to advancing issues and legislation important to the welfare of Black women and girls - and am an active member of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues.
Women should feel comfortable in their workplace while remaining their natural selves. The natural hairstyles of black women have often been discriminated against and seen as "unprofessional" in most professional settings. I have sponsored The Crown Act of 2022 (H.R. 2116) which prohibits discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Specifically the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment.
No woman should have to endure violence of any kind. Period. It is an outrage that Congress has allowed the Violence Against Women Act(H.R. 6545) to expire. I am working hard to ensure that this bill is re-authorized, and that survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault do not go unsupported.
Feminine hygiene products are not luxury items, they are necessities. The same way that toilet paper and hand soap are offered for free in public restrooms, so too should tampons and sanitary pads. That’s why I’ve introduced the Enhancing Public Access to Feminine Hygiene Products Act.
I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all women in the march toward equal opportunity and advancement.
Over the last several years, data has emerged indicating an alarming increase in the suicide rates for Black children and teenagers over the past generation. While research has also shown climbing rates for youth from other racial and ethnic groups, this trend in Black youth runs counter to historical data showing lower rates of suicide among Black Americans. The narrowing racial gap in suicide rates tells us that this emergent issue among Black youth warrants attention now. A cadre of Black researchers from across the United States has been ringing the alarm to raise awareness about this disturbing trend. On April 30, 2019, U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman established he Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, simultaneously empowering a working group, led by Dr. Michael Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH, Executive Director of the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, of experts composed of the country’s leading Black academic, advocacy and practicing experts in this space. Over the past 8 months, the taskforce and working group have held hearings, forums, events and listening sessions to identify both the causes and potential solutions to this burgeoning crisis. On December 17, the taskforce released a report, and simultaneously introduced legislation aimed at closing the mental health care gap for black youth.