Richard Neal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Neal
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Official portrait, 2012
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| Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin Brady |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Sander Levin |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Brady |
| Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin Brady |
| Succeeded by | Jason Smith |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts |
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| Assumed office January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Boland |
| Constituency | 2nd district (1989–2013) 1st district (2013–present) |
| 50th Mayor of Springfield | |
| In office January 2, 1984 – January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Theodore Dimauro |
| Succeeded by | Mary Hurley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Edmund Neal
February 14, 1949 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Maureen Conway
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Holyoke Community College American International College (BA) University of Hartford (MA) |
| Signature |  |
Richard Edmund Neal (born February 14, 1949) is an American politician. He has been a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts since 1989. This means he helps make laws for the country. His district includes cities like Springfield and Holyoke.
Neal is a member of the Democratic Party. He has been the longest-serving member of Massachusetts's group of representatives since 2013. He also holds this title for the New England states.
Before joining the U.S. House, Neal was the leader of the Springfield City Council from 1979 to 1983. He then served as the mayor of Springfield from 1983 to 1989. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1988.
Neal led the important House Ways and Means Committee from 2019 to 2023. This committee handles taxes and other money matters. He has also worked hard to improve relations between the U.S. and Ireland. He has helped with the Northern Ireland peace process, which aims to bring peace to Northern Ireland. In 2020, he was honored by being added to the Irish American Hall of Fame.
Early Life and Education
Richard Edmund Neal was born in 1949 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was the oldest of three children. He and his two younger sisters grew up in Springfield with their mother and father. His father worked as a custodian. Neal's grandparents came from Northern Ireland and Ireland, and also from Cornwall, England.
After high school, Neal went to Holyoke Community College. He then attended American International College in Springfield. He earned a degree in political science in 1972. Later, he went to the University of Hartford and received a master's degree in public administration in 1976. Early in his career, Neal taught history at Cathedral High School.
Local Government Work
Richard Neal started his political journey by helping with a presidential campaign in 1972. In 1973, he became an assistant to the Mayor of Springfield. He was elected to the Springfield City Council in 1978. The next year, he became the President of the City Council.
In 1983, Neal decided to run for Mayor of Springfield. He won the election and became mayor. He was re-elected in 1985 and 1987. As mayor, Neal helped Springfield grow economically. He oversaw many new projects and investments in the city. He also worked to make the city look better by preserving historic homes and starting a "Clean City Campaign."
Working in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
Richard Neal first ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1988. The representative for his area, Edward Boland, was retiring. Neal had a head start on his campaign. He won the election easily.
Since then, Neal has been re-elected every two years. In 1992, he faced some challenges but still won. He has generally had strong support from voters in his district.
After the 2010 census, Massachusetts lost one congressional district. Neal's district changed and combined with another. However, he continued to represent the area and was re-elected in 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2018 and 2020, he won his primary elections against other Democratic candidates.
What He Does in Congress
Richard Neal generally supports policies that are considered liberal. He often votes with the Democratic Party leadership. He also works as a "whip" for the House Democrats, which means he helps gather votes for important bills. He is a co-chair of the New England Congressional Caucus. This group works to help the states in New England.
Economy and Money
Neal has focused much of his career on economic policy. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. This committee handles important issues like taxes, trade, and Social Security. He has also led the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.
One of Neal's main goals is to make the tax system simpler. He has worked to remove certain taxes that he believes affect too many people. He also wants to close tax "loopholes" that benefit only very wealthy individuals. He helped pass a bill that requires federal contractors to pay their taxes correctly.
On trade, Neal generally supports lower trade barriers between countries. He voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993. However, he has also supported some trade agreements.
Neal strongly supports the Social Security program. This program provides money to retired people and others who need it. He has worked to protect it and make sure people can save for retirement. He also pushed for a plan to automatically enroll employees in retirement savings accounts.
Foreign Policy
Because his grandparents were from Ireland, Neal has always been interested in Irish issues. He has worked to keep the United States involved in the Northern Ireland peace process. He is a co-chair of the ad hoc Committee on Irish Affairs. He has also been named one of the top 100 Irish-Americans by Irish America magazine.
Neal was against the Iraq War. He voted against the invasion in 2003. He also opposed sending more troops to Iraq later. He believes that supporting veterans is very important.
Health Care
Neal has been a strong supporter of health care reform for a long time. He was involved in creating the Affordable Health Care for America Act in 2009. His main goals were to help people with "pre-existing conditions" (health problems they had before getting insurance). He also wanted to limit how much people had to pay for medical care and make sure they didn't lose health insurance if they lost their job.
Retirement Planning
In 2019, Neal introduced a bill called the SECURE Act of 2019. This law helps more people save for retirement. It makes it easier for employers to offer retirement plans to their workers. The bill became law in December 2019.
Other Social Issues
Neal has a moderate view on other social issues. He supports a change to the Constitution that would ban disrespecting the U.S. flag. However, he has voted against a change that would ban same-sex marriage.
Committees He Serves On
- Committee on Ways and Means (Ranking Member)
- As the leader of this committee, he can attend all subcommittee meetings.
- Joint Committee on Taxation
Groups He Belongs To
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Afterschool Caucuses
- U.S.-Japan Caucus
- New England Congressional Caucus (Co-chair)
- Friends of Ireland
Personal Life
Richard Neal is a Roman Catholic. He lives in Springfield with his wife, Maureen Neal. They have four children: Rory, Brendan, Maura, and Sean. Besides his work as a congressman, Neal also teaches a journalism class at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Images for kids
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The 2nd congressional district of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2013
See also
In Spanish: Richard Neal para niños
- Electoral history of Richard Neal
