In the News

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congress passed the new tax law this past December, and that means big changes for tax preparers. Congressman Richard Neal held a tax symposium in Springfield on Monday. It was an opportunity for local tax preparers to familiarize themselves and ask questions about many of the provisions in the new law. Congressman Neal told 22News people still… Read more »

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The region's congressional delegation is pushing Environment Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to uphold the EPA's 2016 order that contaminated material in the Housatonic River be "shipped off-site to existing licensed facilities for disposal." U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal have sent a letter to Pruitt… Read more »

Massachusetts federal lawmakers are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to push General Electric to finish cleaning the polluted parts of the Housatonic River and cart the toxic waste out of the state. The EPA and GE, which is now headquartered in Boston, agree that the river must be cleaned up but have clashed over where to put the toxic waste.  GE has pushed for the… Read more »

Homeowners hit with repair costs because tainted concrete used in their foundations and basements is crumbling have more time now to claim their loss as as a deduction on their federal income taxes. Taxpayers now have through the end of the year 2020 to make qualified repairs to their home and until April 2021 to claim those repairs on an amended 2017 federal tax return under IRS rules… Read more »

State officials announced more help is coming for people with crumbling foundations in northern, central and eastern Connecticut Wednesday. Congressmen Joe Courtney (D) and John Larson (D) say that after negotiating with the IRS, the agency has agreed to extend the amount of time people can get tax deductions for the cost of repairing their damaged basements. People now have through the… Read more »

WESTFIELD – U.S. Representative Richard Neal (D-MA) visited Westfield High School on Thursday to honor senior Zachary Medeiros for his acceptance one week ago into the U.S. Naval Academy. Medeiros had received a nomination from Neal and assistance from his office. Medeiros also learned on Wednesday that he is receiving a nomination from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren… Read more »

A day after President Donald Trump spelled out his accomplishments in his first State of the Union address, the region’s two congressmen said the president’s message failed to unify the country and touted a tax plan that will hurt the middle class. Much of the divisiveness regarded immigration, said U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester. Trump implied that many undocumented… Read more »

LEE — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal is no stranger to the classroom. And on Thursday, it showed. Neal, who once taught history at Catholic High School in Springfield, held court before a group of students at St. Mary's School. The students, in Grades 4 through 8, got a lesson on civics and civility from the congressman, who represents the 1st Congressional District, which… Read more »

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The ranking Democrat in the U.S. House's Ways and Means Committee wants to get to negotiations on an infrastructure bill. President Donald Trump is proposing a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill to fix the nation's roads, bridges, airports, and railways. And that is exactly the kind of bill U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has been wanting for years. But, the… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD – Congressman Richard Neal believes that in today’s political atmosphere “outrage prevents us from having earnest, sincere conversations with the goal being let’s get a solution.” Neal said the government shutdown was due at last in part to “issues that were put in place that were guaranteed to excite the masses.” Neal spoke… Read more »