In the News

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal on Thursday introduced legislation calling for an increase in the proposed second round of COVID-19 stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000. Dubbed the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act, the bill comes after Democrats’ months-long push for larger direct payments to Americans and President Donald Trump’s effective threat to veto the… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congress has passed a pandemic relief package that is aimed to help American families struggling, as well as resources to vaccinate a nation. Leaders are calling this a major accomplishment as more money comes to struggling businesses. Congress voted on Monday evening to approve a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package that promises to accelerate vaccine… Read more »

After both houses of Congress passed a $908 billion COVID-19 stimulus package on Monday night, Massachusetts lawmakers pledged to continue fighting for more aid after President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January. The lawmakers touted Democrats’ efforts to secure, at minimum, direct cash payments to Americans and rental and food assistance in the final… Read more »

The beer industry, struggling restaurants and federal workers forced into President Trump’s payroll-tax deferral all stand to gain from the year-end congressional agreement reached Sunday. The deal includes tax breaks aimed at supporting the economy during the coronavirus pandemic as well as extensions of popular provisions that were set to expire at the end of the year.… Read more »

Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts on Monday said the recently-struck COVID-19 stimulus deal is not perfect, but will offer “desperately needed support” to Americans grappling with the economic fallout of the pandemic. “This deal is a good starting point and an important step in the short-term, but more must be done as the pandemic continues to grip the nation… Read more »

In separate tweets over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey all announced they have received the first of two COVID vaccinations. Each tweet was accompanied by a shot of the lawmaker getting vaccinated. All had similarly worded statements of support for the vaccine. Neal, like his Democratic colleagues from the Massachusetts delegation,… Read more »

Surprise medical bills — ones sent to people who receive care outside their insurer’s network, often without knowing it until later — could be headed to arbitration under bipartisan compromise legislation hashed out last week by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal and others. “This was a significant breakthrough,” Neal said Monday. “The incentive there… Read more »

Unexpected shortages of food boxes and reduced service from a new U.S. Department of Agriculture contractor have left several Massachusetts food banks and schools scrambling to buy agricultural goods to adequately serve families, according to lawmakers. Massachusetts lawmakers on Monday wrote to USDA to request a meeting after schools and food banks participating in… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — For more than 20 years, Andrea Allen-Glenn has helped people in need have one less thing to worry about each week. As the food coordinator for the Emergency Food Assistance Program at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services on Rutland Street, Allen-Glenn connects people who need food with fresh produce, meat and other items. Organizations like Allen-Glenn’s… Read more »

Four congressional committees on Friday reached a bipartisan deal on legislation to protect patients from massive "surprise" medical bills after a series of tense negotiations.  The agreement is a milestone in a roughly two-year long effort to pass legislation to protect patients from what is widely seen as an especially egregious practice in American health… Read more »