In the News

EASTHAMPTON — Two of the region’s powerful politicians played pivotal roles on a pair of COVID-19 measures — a $484 billion aid package and the creation of a subcommittee to oversee coronavirus spending — approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. U.S Rep Richard Neal, D-Springfield, led House debate on the aid package that will see $321 billion… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WHSM) -- The U.S. House of Representatives is voting on a multi-billion dollar stimulus bill designed to help struggling small businesses in the wake of the coronavirus shutdowns. A critical part of the bill provides an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. That Paycheck Protection Program was drained in about 12 days following the first… Read more »

Congress is poised to approve another round of coronavirus relief funding. It won’t be the last. The $484 billion emergency interim funding package will send money to hospitals and replenish a loan program to help small businesses make payroll and cover the rent. Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, managed the floor debate prior to… Read more »

(WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is urging the Department of Health and Human Services to disburse additional CARES Act funds to Massachusetts hospitals. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, includes $100 billion to address the increased costs faced by healthcare providers and lost revenue. Massachusetts received nearly $1 billion… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal visited the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility on Bernie Avenue in honor of Earth Day Wednesday. Springfield Materials is a recycling organization that processes recyclable paper and cardboard separately from containers. The facility, which opened 30 years ago in 1990, was proposed during Congressman Neal’s tenure as… Read more »

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- As the reopening debate wages across the country, reviving the economy has been one of the most cited arguments for relaxing social distancing. However, with more small business assistance working its way through Capitol Hill, Congressman Richard Neal, who was in western Mass. today, is speaking out on efforts to help the economy reopen. As Neal was… Read more »

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Congressman Richard Neal speaking on the effects of coronavirus on western Massachusetts today. The congressman spoke while taking a tour of Cartamundi and Hasbro in East Longmeadow earlier today. Neal toured the facility, which has been transformed into a PPE manufacturing location, churning out 50,000 face shields a week. Neal spoke today on how… Read more »

EAST LONGMEADOW — U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said Tuesday he expects to go back to Washington later this week and vote on a new $484 billion coronavirus relief bill, legislation he said he spent the weekend hashing out with the Trump administration while working in concert with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others. The bill passed the Senate Tuesday… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —Rep. Richard Neal said an agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate on the next coronavirus relief package is "imminent." The veteran Massachusetts congressman spoke about the talks surrounding the fourth COVID-19 relief bill during a live appearance on WCVB's "On the Record" Sunday, which he made remotely from outside his Springfield… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — As hospitals across the country face shortages of protective equipment for their workers, many have turned to extraordinary measures to procure it. For Baystate Health officials, that process recently involved convincing the FBI they were purchasing the equipment legally; protecting the shipment from the Department of Homeland Security, which was trying to divert it;… Read more »