In the News

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal on Wednesday touted the possibility that a new $760 billion infrastructure plan by Democrats could bring broadband internet to rural Western Massachusetts and frequent Springfield-to-Boston rail travel.

Neal, the Democratic chairman of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, has been talking a lot lately about his support for east-west rail — including on Friday, both publicly and privately with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

Neal, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey, appeared at a Wednesday morning news conference with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.

Their “Moving Forward” infrastructure framework could create an estimated 10 million jobs by spending the $760 billion over five years on the nation’s roads, bridges, transit systems, railways, airports, ports, inland waterways, wastewater and drinking water systems, brownfields, and broadband.

Neal was also expected to detail his plans for the legislation at a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Democratic lawmakers said their proposal would fight the climate crisis while creating good-paying clean energy sector jobs and providing relief to American families on their energy bills.

A final report from a state-sponsored study of east-west rail isn’t due until spring. The advisory committee has a Feb. 6 meeting in Springfield.

Wednesday’s announcement came as President Donald Trump signed a new trade pact with Canada and Mexico. Neal, as Ways & Means chairman, negotiated the Democratic portion not only with the Trump administration, but with the Canadian and Mexican governments and with members of his own party opposed to free trade.