Richard Neal (1)

Biography

Richard Edmund Neal is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district, which he has served since 1989 . The district includes cities like Springfield, Pittsfield, Holyoke, and more rural areas. He is the dean of Massachusetts's House delegation since 2013 and dean of the New England House delegation. Neal previously served as president of the Springfield City Council and mayor of Springfield . Notable achievements include chairing the House Ways and Means Committee since 2019 , leading COVID-19 relief efforts like the CARES Act, securing over $400 million in infrastructure funding for his district, and advocating for tax reform, Social Security, Medicare, and economic development.

Education

Neal earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from American International College in 1972, where he was a member of the National Honor Society. He received a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Hartford's Barney School of Business and Public Administration in 1976.

Political Experience

Neal began his career winning election to the Springfield City Council in 1977, serving through 1983 with reelections in 1979 and 1981. He was elected mayor in 1983 and reelected in 1985 and 1987. In 1988, he won election to the U.S. House nearly unopposed, serving his first terms on the House Banking Committee before joining Ways and Means in 1993. He has won 17 House elections, with the latest noted in 2020. Additional roles include At-Large Whip for House Democrats, co-chair of the New England Congressional Caucus, and Democratic Leader of the Friends of Ireland Caucus.