SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has received $400,000 from federal coronavirus response legislation passed earlier this year that could help it lay groundwork for even more federal funding in the future. The money comes through the CARES Act and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. “This is significant in the sense that it will allow us to loo... Read more »

House Democrats are making their case to voters with a raft of legislation. In today’s Congressional Corner, Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal speaks with WAMC’s Alan Chartock. This conversation was recorded July 1st. Alan Chartock: Here we are with my congressman, Richard Neal, Massachusetts’ first district, a man I admire incredibly. Richie is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Y... Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said Thursday that he, and by extension the American people, are one large step closer to seeing President Donald Trump’s closely guarded tax records following rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court sent House subpoenas for the records back to lower courts for further rulings. But it upheld the Manhattan district attorney’s demand for Trump’s tax ret... Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal met with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Executive Director to announce a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. According to a news release sent to 22News, the funding was made possible through the passage of the CARES Act and provides the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development ... Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal held a news conference Thursday afternoon to discuss recent legislative achievements. Congressman Neal discussed recent legislation including multiple programs that impacts local residents. One of those being a proposal for $19 billion to be authorized for railroad projects across the country including the East-West rail project. Also a renewabl... Read more »

House Democrats passed a sweeping $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill yesterday, which includes funding for everything from schools, hospitals and clean drinking water to broadband and the energy grid. The climate-friendly legislation stands little to no chance in the Senate, but it does serve as a vessel for Massachusetts lawmakers to present a host of climate-friendly proposals. “The Moving Forwar... Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- The U.S. Economy gained a whopping 4.8 million jobs in June, bringing the unemployment rate down to around 11 percent, but legislators have said that the nation still has a long way to go, and are looking at another round of stimulus checks. Congressman Richard Neal told Western Mass News he’s hopeful the House and Senate can reach an agreement by the end of the mont... Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Labor Department released the latest jobs report for June which includes the creation of almost 5 million new jobs. Investment professionals say the recent numbers are a positive trend but there’s still more work to do to get back to where the economy was before the pandemic. The newest jobs report by the Department of Labor says jobs in the U.S. are rebounding amid... Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — The U.S. House and Senate are likely to pass another stimulus payment program and the federal government might extend a $600-a-week enhancement for unemployment insurance recipients, payments meant to soften the blow the coronavirus dealt to the economy, said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield. Neal spoke Thursday to reporters gathered outside his office in the federal courthou... Read more »

BOSTON (WWLP) – The House is expected to vote Monday on a bill that would protect and expand the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration has joined a number of states in a lawsuit to overturn the law-known popularly as Obamacare. Democrats have called the idea “crazy” to eliminate a plan that provides health insurance for millions of Americans in the midst of a pandemic. Congressman Richard ... Read more »