In the News

A workable agenda that can pass a closely-divided Congress — that’s what U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said he wants to hear from the president-elect at next week’s inauguration.   Neal said he will attend the inauguration on Jan. 20. The Democrat representing the state’s 1st Congressional District said he doesn’t want to hear chaos and vindictiveness from President-elect Donald Trump… Read more »

Ireland will play an “elevated role” in Europe in negotiating trade deals with Donald Trump, a leading US congressman has said.   The ancestral and economic connections between the two countries will be critical when it comes to having sway over the incoming administration, claims Richard Neal, the Democratic representative for Massachusetts.   Neal told The Sunday Times… Read more »

It's been 26 years since the concept of a Connecticut to Vermont bike trail was first proposed — and 130 since a proposal was put forward for a path between North Adams and Williamstown.   Those dreams took another step forward on Friday with the announcement of $17.3 million in federal funding for the "Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail," a 9.3-mile section from the Mohican Path… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said the bill President Joe Biden signed into law Sunday afternoon that increases Social Security payments for some public employees will affect more than 100,000 residents in Massachusetts.   Nationally, the bill aimed at current and former public employees would affect nearly 3 million people who receive pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters,… Read more »

With Christmas in the rearview mirror, members of the African-American community and the Jewish faith each lit candles to kick off their own holidays Thursday.   About 40 people gathered inside City Hall in the morning to celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa, called umoja or unity, with music, dancing and the lighting of the first of seven candles signifying each day of the holiday… Read more »

The Secretary of the Air Force has signed off on stationing F-35 jets at Barnes Air National Guard Base and the National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing.   The signature of Biden appointee Frank Kendall III on a record of decision closes a yearlong environmental review and achieves a bureaucratic milestone just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House with a… Read more »

The NBA today announced its celebrations of the 2nd annual World Basketball Day to honor the game and bring people together from around the world.  The day was established in 2023 by the United Nations and is observed annually on December 21, the date Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at the Springfield YMCA in 1891. World Basketball Day celebrates… Read more »

Massachusetts’ federal lawmakers wrote a letter to the Department of Defense on Monday requesting the grounding of the V-22 Osprey aircraft.   Congressman Richard Neal along with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey have requested the Department of Defense ground the full fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys until safety issues are resolved.   A V-22 Osprey is an aircraft… Read more »

Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01) is today speaking before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission during a hearing on “Northern Ireland: The Patrick Finucane Case.”   Testifying to the committee, according to a release from the congressman's office, will be Geraldine Finucane, the widow of the renowned Northern Ireland human rights attorney Patrick Finucane, and her three adult… Read more »

City leaders and the veteran community honored Veterans Day with an annual ceremony at Veterans Memorial Plaza on Nov. 11.   A memorial ceremony was first hosted at 10 a.m. at the Saint Stan’s school.   Then at 11 a.m., a wreath-laying ceremony was hosted at the Veterans Memorial Plaza. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) joined Chicopee Mayor John Vieau, Chicopee… Read more »