In the News

SPRINGFIELD - After President Donald Trump announced that he would be cancelling pay raises for almost 2 million federal workers, Springfield congressman Richard Neal released a statement saying he opposed the decision. 

Neal said: 

"The public servants who make up our civilian federal workforce deserve to be compensated fairly for the important work that they do each day on behalf of our country. That is why I strongly oppose President Trump's proposal today to cancel a pay raise for nearly 2 million hard working Americans.

Neal questioned the President's reasoning behind the fiscal decision: 

Does the president really believe the nurse at the VA hospital who looks after our brave veterans is not entitled to a raise in pay? What about the TSA agent who protects our airports? Or the FEMA official who is bringing disaster relief to families in need? Don't' they deserve to see a little more in their paycheck each week? President Trump said the reason for canceling the pay raise was economic sustainability and the need to save money. But he was not preaching fiscal rectitude last year when he signed a $1.5 trillion tax cut that primarily benefits the wealthy. As we prepare to celebrate Labor Day, the work of our federal employees should be acknowledged, and their modest pay raise should not be cancelled."