Congressman Neal announces $400,000 grant to Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
WWLP (22 News)
“Congressman Richard Neal met with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Executive Director to announce a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. According to a news release sent to 22News, the funding was made possible through the passage of the CARES Act and provides the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs across the country aimed at helping communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.”
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$1.5 trillion infrastructure bill would give big boost to east-west rail
The Recorder
“Standing on a platform Friday morning at Union Station, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal touted a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill unveiled by House Democrats last week that includes $19 billion in federal grant funding that he said will benefit east-west rail. Calling the proposal ‘the most ambitious infrastructure plan’ since former President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act in 1956, Neal said the legislation would pave the way for federal funding across a variety of sectors, including improvements to roads and bridges, municipal broadband internet, affordable housing, green energy and rail.”
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Neal optimistic about big, Democrat-led spending bills
Berkshire Eagle
“U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, expressed confidence in his party's efforts to invest in infrastructure and to provide pandemic relief, despite Republican aversion to large spending bills amid the economic downturn. Neal's comments followed the rollout last week of the "Moving Forward Act," an infrastructure plan by Democrats that would allocate $1.5 trillion to improve highways, railroads, broadband, renewable energy and the U.S. Postal Service, among other items.”
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Democrats detail their $1.5T green infrastructure plan
The Hill
“The legislation, unveiled Thursday, would funnel hundreds of billions of dollars toward transportation and broadband, along with investments in schools and hospitals, with requirements to reduce emissions and clean up industry woven throughout the bill. “This is the largest tax investment in combating climate change Congress has ever made,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said when the bill was first announced.”
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Editorial: Massachusetts’ congressional delegation needs to rally for federal funding on east-west rail
MassLive
“For years, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, has been a dogged supporter of an east-west rail line that would connect all parts of Massachusetts, bolster the economy and greatly reduce the self-defeating economic imbalance between the state’s eastern and western ends.”
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Editorial: “State funding boost gives long-awaited momentum to east-west rail”
The Republican
“Six options are under consideration. Cost estimates of these six range from $2 billion to $25 billion. All sides agree this project will require federal funding, but, again, timing could be favorable as $19 billion for rail expansion is included in a $1.5 trillion federal infrastructure construction bill introduced last month. House Ways and Means chairman Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, is pushing for the east-west rail line to be part of it.”
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Neal touts $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan for trains, green energy, highways at Union Station
MassLive
“Speaking over the rumbling locomotive of the 12:05 Amtrak train to Hartford, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal touted a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan he and his fellow Democrats introduced with a Friday visit to Springfield’s Union Station. ‘This is the first substantive step the Congress has taken toward east-west rail,’ said Neal… referencing the long-held goal of improving passenger train service from Boston west through Worcester and Springfield.”
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Letters to the Editor: Time has come in Massachusetts for East-West rail
MassLive
“The bottom line is that the project will not be able to become a reality without the infusion of federal money which will be well spent. It is fortunate that our congressional delegation led by the House Ways & Means Committee chair Richard E. Neal, of Springfield, might well be able to do what has simply been politically impossible to accomplish in the past: the realization of east-west rail. The time truly has come to undertake and complete this vital and noble endeavor.”
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MA: Markey, Neal tout Massachusetts East-West Rail with new infrastructure bill
Mass Transit Magazine
“U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal unveiled a bill that would pump billions into passenger rail funding -- and touted how it could lay the tracks for the long-discussed East-West Rail as both men fight for re-election. The two announced what they called the "Brain Train" Act, which would authorize $5 billion in spending nationally on passenger rail a year for the next five years.”
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Passenger rail bill unveiled by congressmen
Daily Hampshire Gazette
“U.S. Sen. Ed Markey has announced new legislation that he says would help expand passenger rail service across western Massachusetts… Joining Markey on the virtual press conference was U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, who is introducing the legislation in the House. Neal is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, where he unveiled a $760 billion infrastructure plan in late January. He said he recently met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to discuss infrastructure spending, and that he thinks there is broad support for it in Congress.”
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Rep. Neal pressing ahead with Phase Four relief package
MetroWest Daily News
“The White House may be trying to pump the brakes on the next round of economic relief being discussed in Congress, but U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said Monday that it’s full steam ahead for House Democrats, who want to provide more aid to state and local governments, as well as hospitals, families and the unemployed. ‘We’re writing it now,’ Neal told the News Service in a phone interview from Springfield on Monday afternoon.”
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‘Remember what we all pay for the MBTA’: U.S. Rep. Richard Neal reacts to east-west rail cost estimates
MassLive
“U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, who has called east-west passenger rail in Massachusetts a priority and has begun laying the groundwork for federal funding, has a message for folks experiencing sticker shock over estimates that put the cost in the billions. ‘Remember what we all pay for the MBTA system in Boston, which is now calling for a multibillion-dollar program of improvement and infrastructure,’ Neal, D-Springfield, said Thursday.”
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Congressman Neal toured new affordable housing project in Holyoke
22 News (WWLP)
“Congressman Richard Neal visited the Care Center in Holyoke Monday afternoon where he met with students and toured the new housing project. According to a news release sent to 22News, Congressman Neal met with students for a roundtable discussion and Q&A session at 12:15 p.m. and then received a tour of the new $23 million Library Commons Project.”
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Rep. Neal highlights east west-rail among Dems' transportation priorities
Daily Hampshire Gazette
“As Democrats in the nation’s capital unveiled a $760 billion infrastructure plan last week, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was front and center — and so too was a pet project for many in western Massachusetts.”
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Rep. Neal highlights east west-rail among Dems' transportation priorities
MassLive
“Congressman Richard Neal, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he expects to work closely with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer following the United Kingdom’s announcement this week it would be formally leaving the European Union.”
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Neal calls east-west rail a ‘priority’ at House hearing
MassLive
“Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Richard E. Neal told the committee Wednesday that passenger rail connecting Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield will be a priority as the U.S. House of Representatives considers a $760 billion infrastructure program Democrats introduced Wednesday.”
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House Democrats to Unveil $760 Billion Infrastructure Plan
New York Times
“House Democrats on Wednesday plan to unveil a five-year, $760 billion framework for rebuilding the nation’s highways, airports and other infrastructure… It is the product of a collaboration led by Representative Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Frank Pallone Jr. of New Jersey, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee; and Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.”
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Platform C opening completes Springfield Union Station's rebirth
MassLive
“The newly completed and handicapped-accessible Platform C at Springfield Union Station is the next step toward potentially reestablishing frequent passenger rail service between Springfield and Boston, Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday. Baker joined longtime Union Station booster U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno for a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the $11 million platform.”
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Develop Springfield to host ribbon cutting of Springfield Innovation Center
22 News (WWLP)
“A ceremonial ribbon cutting commemorating the completed restoration of the Springfield Innovation Center will be taking place Thursday morning. According to a news release sent to 22News, Congressman Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno will be attending the event along with the DevelopSpringfield board of directors. Brief remarks will follow the ribbon cutting.”
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Housing, Jobs and Transportation Top County Needs
iBerkshires.com
“Neal ran through a list of some things he's supported — the Affordable Care Act and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement… and repeated his assertion that addicts should get care and not punishment to get them back into the workforce. Still, he said, the low unemployment rate doesn't "sync with the gig economy and working two jobs" and that the federal minimum wage needs to raised. ‘I think what you've done today is really important for advocacy,’ the congressman told the gathering.”
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