In the News

Now that the clerks have completed their all-night reading of the 628-page COVID-19 relief bill, senators are poised to push for approval this weekend. Beyond providing additional stimulus payments and unemployment benefits, the $1.9 trillion package would channel money to state and local governments. City and town governments in Berkshire County stand to receive $41 million,… Read more »

BOSTON — The Massachusetts congressman and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee also addresses the challenges of getting the package onto President Joe Biden's desk wholly intact. Watch the entire interview HERE.  ## Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- House Democrats pass a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, but not one House Republican voted in favor of the bill, and now it will face an uphill battle in the Senate. People are closer to getting a $1,400 stimulus check. The final vote was a narrow margin of 219–212, with two House Democrats breaking ranks and voting no. There was no bipartisan… Read more »

The House passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan early Saturday morning with $1,400 direct payments to Americans and with two members of the Massachusetts delegation playing key roles in its passage. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was responsible for $941 billion — or about half the $1.9 trillion bill. As Rules… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Congressman Richard Neal addressing the American Rescue Plan on Monday. The plan, which was the nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 relief plan proposed by President Joe Biden, was recently marked up by the Ways and Means Committee - the committee that Neal chairs. The plan continues through the reconciliation process and Neal wants to help those unemployed due to… Read more »

The American Rescue Plan is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package proposed by President Joe Biden. Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Richard Neal, explained what this means for the American people and how soon they could see this relief. "The pandemic is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem, it's a health issue and before we get to full economic… Read more »

BOSTON (SHNS) – By the end of this week, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief and economic stimulus bill could be on its way to the U.S. Senate, according to House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal. During a press conference in Springfield on Monday, Neal outlined a timetable and prediction for the bill. “It now appears as though Friday will be the scheduled vote on the… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Richard E. Neal said Monday he expects President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan COVID relief package — which includes a $1,400-per-person payment — to go to an up/down House vote Friday. From there it’s on to the Senate. “I expect Americans will start… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- More than 100,000 of Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccine doses are saved from being stranded in the winter weather down south This comes right after state officials said those vaccine shipments to Massachusetts could be delayed until Monday. The concern was that appointments for this weekend and next week could be in jeopardy with the shipment delay.… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal on Thursday worked with the White House to rescue thousands of doses of coronavirus vaccine stranded in Southern states hard hit by winter weather. According to a Neal spokesperson, the Springfield Democrat spoke directly with the office of President Joe Biden to reclaim Massachusetts’ weekly shipment of doses, delayed out of… Read more »