In the News

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said Wednesday he is confident that the new $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill that he and his House Democratic colleagues unveiled a day earlier will soon get money flowing to states and to cities and towns grappling with the enormous expenses and revenue shortfalls of COVID-19.

“We are moving to stabilization and recovery,” Neal said of the legislation, about two-thirds of it falling under the purview of the House Ways and Means Committee he chairs in Washington.

The bill includes $1 trillion in relief for state, local, and tribal governments. Of that amount, $500 billion would go towards states. Massachusetts is in line for $22.5 billion of that. Some of that money, Neal said, will go to communities based on existing CDBG or Community Development Block Grant Guidlines.

“This is not, and should not be a partisan issue,” the Springfield Democrat said, citing support from Gov. Charlie Baker in Massachusetts and Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland — both Republicans .

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, cited Neal by name in Cuomo’s broadcast news conference in Watertown, New York, saying the legislation will get money into the hands of states and help avoid layoffs of police, firefighters and other essential workers.

Cuomo also praised the bill for reinstating SALT, the state and local property tax deduction. The deduction, which went away in the GOP tax cuts of 2017, means $11 billion stays in Massachusetts.

U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday in Washington that he sees no urgency and that the aid to states is a non starter.

Neal reminded reporters that McConnell said that about the earlier three coronavirus bailout bills which all eventually passed.

“I understand that its a document of negotiation,” Neal said. “I understand posturing."

But Neal said he also cannot imagine Republican senators voting no on aid to states when their own governors are calling out for the money.

Baker is seeking $1 billion to plug the Massachusetts government’s spending gap on the expectation that federal help will arrive.

Springfield has spent $4.8 million beyond its budget due to the coronavirus and revenues have dropped by $2.3 million.

“These states are up against it,” Neal said.

Neal spoke with reporters Wednesday at the federal courthouse on State Street. His district office is located in the building.

Neal said the House will vote Friday and he’d like to see the measure passed into law as soon as possible.

Other measures in the bill:

• $75 billion for virus testing
• 15% increase to food stamp programs
• $200 billion hazard pay for health care workers
• $25 billion for the postal service
• $100 billion for hospitals
• $600 million to address the spread of the virus in prisons
• $600 million for local police departments