In the News

WASHINGTON — Knowing President Joe Biden would talk transportation at the State of the Union, U.S. Rep Richard E. Neal invited the Bay State’s transportation secretary to be his guest and talk about west-east rail.

Monica Tibbits-Nutt indicated in meetings before the speech that the passenger rail project, linking Boston through Worcester to Springfield and west to Pittsfield, is the agency’s number one initiative.

“She highlighted again Springfield being right in the middle,” Neal, D-Springfield and the ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means. “She’s on it. I can tell you.”

The state uses the umbrella term “Compass Rail” to describe plans for east-west and north-south passenger rail, with Springfield’s Union Station in the middle.

Gov. Maura T. Healey appointed Tibbits-Nutt in November. Neal — then in the majority and chairman of his House committee — helped shepherd the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through Congress in 2021. It brings $10 billion to Massachusetts projects, and the impact is only now starting to be felt.

“The president sees it as one of his signature achievements,” Neal said.

Biden, facing a challenge from Donald Trump, the president he defeated in 2000, will use his speech Thursday to build his case for reelection in November.

That means highlighting infrastructure, the American Rescue Plan Act, and other legislation, Neal said. Unemployment’s been under 4% for two years, and inflation is back down to about 3%.

“It’s a pretty good story to tell, and I think that he’s got to tee it up and tell it,” he said.

He hopes Biden addresses immigration and tells the House to pass the Senate’s bill combining immigration reform with aid to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel and Gaza.

“It should not be held hostage to the political considerations of a former president,” Neal said.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, invited Bernadette Manning as her guest to the president’s speech. Manning is a parent and former Boston Public Schools teacher who got her student debt canceled, thanks to Biden’s fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Lou Antonellis, business manager of IBEW Local 103 in Boston, was invited by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts. He highlights the union for its efforts in filling green jobs.

U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, invited Shrewsbury resident and Vietnam War veteran Ronald Roy, who has benefited from the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act.

Roy served in the Air Force from 1969 to 1973 as an aircraft maintenance specialist. During the final years of his service, while in Thailand as a C-130 aircraft mechanic, he was exposed to Agent Orange. Under the PACT Act, Roy was able to get low-cost treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, McGovern’s office said.