In the News

Twice during the Jan. 6 Committee’s two-hour televised hearing on Thursday night, witnesses and members of Congress mentioned Room 208 in the U.S. Capitol or the Ways and Means Committee room.   Those spaces are where U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield was that day. He serves as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.   “I think that anybody who would… Read more »

City and state officials gathered in celebration of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ groundbreaking ceremony on June 2. The food bank is constructing a new food distribution center on Carew Street. While currently operational in Hatfield, the food bank is developing a new headquarters location in wake of rising food insecurity rates. Factors driving the rising insecurity rates… Read more »

Construction for the new Food Bank of Western Massachusetts officially kicked off on Thursday. It’s a project that had faced pushback from some area residents. “This is going to be the hub of food security for western Mass. and points beyond,” said Chicopee Mayor John Vieau. The food bank is moving its headquarters from Hatfield to the city of Chicopee in an effort to expand after… Read more »

Springfield Union Station has received a $1.75 million federal rail infrastructure grant for track improvements, the U.S. The Department of Transportation announced Thursday. The project will develop preliminary engineering and environmental clearance for track, signal, and infrastructure improvements, according to the statement. The track work will include additional platforms,… Read more »

Congressman Richard Neal is calling the rise in gas prices and inflation an international problem. It comes after President Biden’s Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she underestimated the inflation we saw this past year. Congressman Neal told 22News inflation is being brought on by the pandemic’s impacts in China, leading to supply chain issues, but also the Russian invasion of… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, is encouraging state lawmakers to create a Western Massachusetts passenger rail authority that would apply for federal funds and evenly administer expanded east-west commuter rail.   “Virtually every state rep. and state senator west of Worcester is allied with us,” Neal said yesterday.   He’d just spoken with state Senate… Read more »

A special lunch was held at the Sheraton in Springfield for the Western Mass Economic Development Council. Among those speaking: Congressman Richard Neal. Congressman Richard Neal explained this as an opportunity to show his work on Capitol Hill with local industry leaders. The Council provides information and resources to local businesses through networking, expansion, and… Read more »

Project celebrated for both historic preservation and needed housing A ribbon cutting took place Wednesday in Springfield, Massachusetts to celebrate the redevelopment of a former school building into apartments – 11 years to the day the school was wrecked by a tornado. The old Brookings school is now the Elias Brookings Apartments consisting of 42 rental units with 1, 2, or 3… Read more »

Members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation pressed baby formula manufacturer Abbott Laboratories Tuesday for a timeline on when the company plans to replenish a formula brand that roughly 22,000 infants in the state rely on through a federal program. In mid-February, the manufacturer began recalling powdered infant formula produced at one of its facilities in Sturgis, Michigan… Read more »

A bid led by top government, business, higher education and life sciences officials to bring a federal biomedical research agency to Massachusetts is launching Monday with a meeting at the UMass Club in Boston. Gov. Charlie Baker, Congressman Richard Neal, University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan and Massachusetts Biotechnology Council CEO Joe Boncore are leading the effort to… Read more »