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; died 2025) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Holyoke Community College American International College (BA) University of Hartford (MA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
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 covers cities like Springfield and Pittsfield. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Richard Neal was the president 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.
From 2019 to 2023, Neal led the House Ways and Means Committee. This committee handles important topics like taxes and trade. He has also worked hard to improve relations between the U.S. and Ireland. He is known for his generally liberal views, but he is considered more moderate on some issues. In January 2020, he was honored by being inducted into 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. His mother was a housewife, and his father worked as a custodian. Richard and his two younger sisters grew up in Springfield. His grandparents on both sides came from Ireland.
When Richard was 13, his mother passed away. His father also passed away while Richard was in high school. Richard and his sisters then lived with their grandmother and later their aunt. They relied on Social Security benefits to help them.
After high school, Richard went to Holyoke Community College. He then attended American International College in Springfield, where he studied political science. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1972. Later, he earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Hartford in 1976. Early in his career, Richard Neal taught history at Cathedral High School.
Starting in Local Government
Richard Neal started his political journey in 1972. He helped with the presidential campaign for George McGovern in Western Massachusetts. In 1973, he became an assistant to the Mayor of Springfield.
In 1978, Neal was elected to the Springfield City Council. He became the President of the City Council in 1979. During this time, he also taught history and gave lectures at several colleges.
In 1983, Richard Neal decided to run for mayor of Springfield. The current mayor decided not to run again, and Neal was elected. He was reelected in 1985 and 1987. As mayor, he helped Springfield's economy grow. There was a lot of new development and the city's budget had extra money. He also worked to make the city look better by preserving old homes and starting a "Clean City Campaign."
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
First Elections to Congress
In 1988, Richard Neal ran for the United States House of Representatives. The current representative, Edward Boland, was retiring. Neal had a head start on his campaign because Boland told him he was leaving. Neal raised money and gathered signatures before the announcement. He won the Democratic primary without opposition. In the main election, he easily defeated his opponent with over 80 percent of the votes.
Neal has been reelected every two years since then. In 1990, he faced a challenger in the primary election but won easily. In 1992, he won reelection despite some challenges. He won with 53 percent of the vote.
Since 1994, Neal has faced little strong competition in elections. He won easily in 1996 and ran unopposed in 1998. In 2010, he faced a Republican opponent but won with 57% of the vote.
After the 2010 census, Massachusetts lost one congressional district. Neal's district changed, but he was reelected without much trouble in 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Recent Elections
In the 2018 Democratic primary, Neal won against Tahirah Amatul-Wadud. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning his sixteenth term.
In 2020, Holyoke mayor Alex Morse challenged Neal in the Democratic primary. Neal won this election. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning his seventeenth term.
In 2022, Neal ran for his eighteenth term. He defeated Republican Dean Martilli in the general election, winning 61.4% of the vote.
In 2024, Neal ran for his nineteenth term. He defeated independent candidate Nadia Milleron in the general election, winning 62.4% of the vote.
What Richard Neal Does in Congress
Richard Neal is known for his generally liberal political views. He often votes with the Democratic Party leadership. He is a co-chair of the New England Congressional Caucus. This group works to help the interests of the New England region.
Focus on Economy and Budget
Neal has focused much of his career on economic policy. He served on the House Banking Committee early in his career. He worked to make sure new banking laws would not hurt small businesses.
In 1993, Neal joined the House Ways and Means Committee. This is a very important committee that deals with taxes, trade, and other financial matters. He has been a leader on the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.
One of Neal's main goals has been to make the tax system simpler. He has worked to change the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), which he believes affects too many people. He also wants to close tax "loopholes" that benefit very wealthy people. He helped pass a law in 2008 that required federal contractors to pay their taxes correctly.
On trade, Neal has a balanced record. He voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993. However, he supported a trade agreement with Peru in 2007.
Neal is a strong supporter of the Social Security program. This program provides financial support to retired people and others. He worked to make it easier for people to save for retirement through Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
In 2019, Neal's committee passed a bill that would stop the IRS from creating a free online tax filing system. This decision drew attention because he had received campaign donations from tax preparation companies.
Foreign Policy and Ireland
Because his grandparents came from Ireland, Neal has always been a strong supporter of Irish issues. He has worked to keep the United States involved in the Northern Ireland peace process. He is a co-chair of the Committee on Irish Affairs and leads the "Friends of Ireland" group in Congress. He has received awards for his work on U.S.-Ireland relations.
Neal was against the Iraq War. He voted against the invasion in 2003 and against sending more troops in 2006. He has also focused on supporting military veterans.
Healthcare and Other Issues
Neal has been involved in major healthcare reform efforts. He worked on the Affordable Health Care for America Act in 2009-2010. His goals were to help people with pre-existing conditions, limit out-of-pocket medical costs, and ensure people kept their health insurance if they lost their jobs.
As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Neal expressed concerns about a "Medicare for All" plan. He believed it was not the best policy and might not be popular. He also faced criticism in 2019 regarding legislation to end surprise medical bills.
In 2019, Neal introduced the SECURE Act of 2019. This law helps more people save for retirement and encourages employers to offer retirement plans.
In 2023, Neal was one of 49 Democrats who voted for a ban on certain types of weapons being sent to Ukraine.
On other social issues, Neal has a moderate record. He supports a proposed change to the Constitution to ban the disrespect of the U.S. flag. He has voted against amendments that would ban same-sex marriage.
Committee Roles
- Committee on Ways and Means (Ranking Member)
- 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
- Rare Disease Caucus
Personal Life
Richard Neal is a Roman Catholic. He lives in Springfield. He was married to Maureen Neal, who passed away in March 2025. They had four children. Besides his work as a congressman, Neal teaches a journalism class at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Images for kids
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Richard Neal's signature
See also
In Spanish: Richard Neal para niños
