Watson Coleman Votes ‘No’ On ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ As House Passes Trump Legislation

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's signature legislative package, officially known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Bill, in a narrow 218-214 vote on Thursday, sending the measure to the president's desk for his signature.

The vote came after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made congressional history by delivering the longest speech ever recorded on the House floor, speaking for more than eight and a half hours in an attempt to delay the proceedings.

Despite the delay tactics, Republicans advanced the bill, which represents a cornerstone of Trump's domestic policy agenda.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey's 12th District, cast a "no" vote on the legislation and issued a scathing statement criticizing the measure's contents and timing.

"I voted 'NO' on the Big, Ugly Bill today," Watson Coleman said in a statement released on social media platform X. "I am appalled at the cruelty on display during what should be a week of reflection, celebration and recommitment of our nation's pursuit for a more perfect union."

The congresswoman argued that Republicans "are making clear they have no interest in governing for the people who rely on us most," characterizing the bill as harmful to vulnerable populations while benefiting wealthy Americans.

Among New Jersey representatives, Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew voted in favor of the bill, with the remaining, all Democrats, voting against.

READ MORE: 'Big Beautiful Bill' Passed By House: What It Means In NJ

The White House and critics of the legislation present starkly different pictures of the bill's potential impact on New Jersey families. According to Trump administration projections, the measure would provide substantial financial relief to middle-class households.

The White House estimates that New Jersey families in median-income homes with two children would see their take-home pay increase by an average of $9,400 to $16,400 annually as a result of the bill's provisions.

However, Watson Coleman disputed these benefits, arguing that the legislation "threatens healthcare for seniors and children, strips food assistance from millions, slashes student loan protections, and undermines climate progress." She characterized the bill as serving "the wealthy and punishes everyone else."

Independent analysis paints a concerning picture for healthcare access in New Jersey. According to KFF, a health policy research organization, the bill's passage would result in a three percent increase in the state's uninsured population.

The research projects that approximately 320,000 additional New Jersey residents would lose health insurance coverage if the bill becomes law.

The coverage losses would be driven by two primary factors - changes to Medicaid programs would account for about 270,000 of the dropped coverages, while modifications to the Affordable Care Act would result in another 56,000 people losing their insurance.

These state-level projections reflect a broader national trend. KFF estimates that nationwide, approximately 10 million Americans would lose health insurance coverage under the provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill.

While the full text of the legislation encompasses numerous policy areas, the debate has centered on several key provisions that have drawn both support and opposition. Supporters argue the bill delivers on campaign promises to reduce government spending and provide tax relief to working families.

Critics, however, contend that the savings for middle-class families come at the expense of safety net programs that serve the most vulnerable populations. The bill's approach to healthcare, food assistance, student loans, and climate initiatives has become a particular flashpoint in the debate.

With House passage complete, the bill now moves to President Trump's desk for his signature. The president is expected to sign the measure promptly, making it law and beginning the implementation of its various provisions.

Here’s Watson Coleman’s full statement, via X:

I voted "NO" on the Big, Ugly Bill today. I am appalled at the cruelty on display during what should be a week of reflection, celebration and recommitment of our nation’s pursuit for a more perfect union. Republicans are making clear they have no interest in governing for the people who rely on us most. This bill threatens healthcare for seniors and children, strips food assistance from millions, slashes student loan protections, and undermines climate progress. At every single turn it serves the wealthy and punishes everyone else.

249 years ago yesterday, the Continental Congress accepted the idea of independence. Thomas Jefferson penned the first draft of what would be America’s justification for seeking independence from a tyrannical ruler - proclaiming a set of natural rights that were the responsibility of the government to protect.

Every person to sign their name to that declaration in 1776 took an extraordinary risk. Declaring freedom from the King did nothing to establish liberation, only providing proof of treason should they have lost the war. It was the collective belief of our founders that the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was worth the ultimate sacrifice.

It was a display of courage in the face of certain harm that I am ashamed to say cannot be found in the majority of these two chambers of Congress today. This bill, the justification of its passage, and every member of this body of Congress to vote in its favor has desecrated the humble values on which this institution was founded.

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