In the News

To continue providing economic relief to Americans during COVID-19, two House Democrats called on the Internal Revenue Service on Monday to extend the the 2021 tax filing season past April 15. Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal and Oversight Subcommittee Chair Bill Pascrell, Jr. said in a joint statement that at the end of February, the number of returns filed was down… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP/AP) – Most Americans can expect more money in their bank accounts soon, after the Senate passed a new coronavirus relief package over the weekend. The final vote was 50-49 along party lines, with every Republican voting “no.” However, before it can be signed by President Biden, the legislation will have to be passed again by the House because… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal is confident not only that the $1.9 trillion American Rescue plan will pass the House Tuesday for the second time, but that it will pick up a few Republican votes along the way. “We are now on the eve of passing historic legislation as it relates to the pandemic and simultaneously to economic… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- The U.S. is one step closer to providing citizens a $1,400 stimulus check as the Senate passes a revised version of the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill. The vote on party lines 50 to 49. There are two differences in this bill. The income cap for those who get a stimulus check and less money in weekly unemployment checks. Now the bill has to go back to the House… Read more »

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 »