U.S. House District 1: Richard Neal on the issues

Social Security and Medicare

As a senior member of the prestigious House Ways & Means Committee, he has fought relentlessly to protect Social Security and Medicare from privatization efforts, with President Bill Clinton saying, “Nobody has been a greater champion for preserving & protecting Social Security.” He was one of the chief strategists in defeating recent Republican efforts to dismantle Social Security, highlighting what he called “a manufactured crisis.” He believes strongly that Social Security benefits and Medicare can be preserved for generations of Americans.

This committee assignment also allows him to have considerable influence over tax and trade issues. He has drawn much attention to his efforts to end unintended tax subsidies for foreign insurance companies and has filed legislation that would end the tax loopholes that cost taxpayers billions of dollars and provide foreign-owned insurers a significant advantage over their U.S. competitors in serving the US market. Additionally, he has called for the simplification of the U.S. tax code, repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax and recently introduced the Automatic IRA Act of 2012 – a bill that provides the middle class with greater retirement security, receiving applause from both sides of the aisle, an infrequent occurrence these days, but nonetheless welcomed.

Throughout his public service career, working families have always been at the “forefront” of his mind when casting votes or crafting legislation. Massachusetts State AFL–CIO President Steve Tolman noted in the AFL-CIO’s recent endorsement that Richie Neal “has been there for working people throughout his entire career.” Brian Morrison, President of the Berkshire Central Labor Council said he was looking forward to communicating Neal’s record on “fighting for working families.” Rick Brown, President of the Pioneer Valley Labor Council called him the “clear choice” in 2012. Richie Neal is a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and a lifelong member of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1459. He is clearly committed to working families.

Richie Neal has spent his career fighting to make western and central Massachusetts a better place to live. He has been a fought to preserve the quality of its hospitals, universities, and life science initiatives. He has secured federal assistance for bringing high speed rail and broadband access to western Massachusetts.