Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) announced that she will be named a House Democratic Deputy Whip for Policy, an advisory role focused on strategic, long-range planning and coordination of policy concerns from across the House Democratic Caucus.

In addition, Congresswoman Watson Coleman was named as Chair of the Democratic Caucus’s Task Force on Poverty, a position previously held by Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California who retired at the conclusion of the 118th Congress. The Task Force works to advance policies and initiatives that help reduce poverty for children and families across America.

“It has long been a core mission of mine to advance anti-poverty legislation that would create a floor beneath which we allow no family to fall,” said Watson Coleman. “The United States has made great strides in the past to address poverty from the creation of Social Security in the 1930s to the War on Poverty legislation of the 1960s. Sadly we’ve seen poverty rates plateau over the last 30 to 40 years. It is time we took up that goal once again and focus our energy on this persistent yet solvable problem.”

In addition to her roles in the Democratic Caucus, Congresswoman Watson Coleman will be rejoining the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s Executive Board and will serve as Vice Chair of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus. The Congresswoman will continue to Co-chair the Caucus on Black Women and Girls as well as Chair the A250 Caucus which is tasked with preparing for the nation’s 250th Birthday (or Semiquincentennial) on July 4, 2026.

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