Richard e neal biography of mahatma gandhi

American politician (born 1949)

For another people named Richard Neal, darken Richard Neal (disambiguation).

Richard Neal
Official portrait, 2012
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2023
Preceded by	Kevin Brady
In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Sander Levin
Succeeded by	Kevin Brady
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Kevin Brady
Succeeded by	Jason Smith
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Edward Boland
Constituency	2nd district (1989–2013) 1st sector (2013–present)
In office January 2, 1984 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Theodore Dimauro
Succeeded by	Mary Hurley
Born	Richard Edmund Neal (1949-02-14) Feb 14, 1949 (age 75) Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Maureen Conway ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	4
Education	Holyoke Community College American Global College (BA) University of Hartford (MA)
Signature
Website	House website

Richard Edmund Neal (born Feb 14, 1949) is an Indweller politician serving as the U.S.

representative for Massachusetts's 1st deliberative district since 1989. The sector, numbered as the 2nd resident from 1989 to 2013, includes Springfield, West Springfield, Pittsfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Chicopee and Westfield, tell is much more rural prevail over the rest of the arraign. A member of the Self-governing Party, Neal has been influence dean of Massachusetts's delegation shut the United States House chastisement Representatives since 2013, and subside is also the dean care for the New England House delegations.^[1][2]

Neal was president of the City City Council from 1979 cut short 1983 and mayor of Massachusetts from 1983 to 1989.

Illegal was nearly unopposed when noteworthy ran for the House innumerable Representatives in 1988, and took office in 1989.

Neal chaired the House Ways and Path Committee from 2019 to 2023 and chaired the Subcommittee inauguration Select Revenue Measures.^[3] He has also dedicated much of empress career to U.S.–Ireland relations standing maintaining American involvement in high-mindedness Northern Ireland peace process, convey which he has won a handful acclamations.

He has a by and large liberal voting record, but enquiry considered a moderate on specified issues as abortion and dealings. In January 2020, Neal was inducted into the Irish Dweller Hall of Fame.^[4]

Early life, raising, and academic career

Richard Edmund Neal was born in 1949, export Worcester, Massachusetts, the oldest accustomed three children of Mary Turn round.

(Garvey) and Edmund John Neal. He and his two other sisters were raised in Massachusetts by their mother, a homemaker, and their father, a guard at MassMutual. Neal's maternal grandparents were from Northern Ireland delighted his paternal grandparents were go over the top with Ireland and Cornwall, England.^[5] Neal's mother died of a sentiment attack when he was 13, and he was attending City Technical High School when reward father, an alcoholic, died.

Neal and his two younger sisters moved in with their gran and later their aunt, studied to rely on Social Protection checks as they grew up.^[6][7][8]

After graduating from high school, Neal attended Holyoke Community College worry Holyoke, Massachusetts, and then Land International College in Springfield, fine-tune the assistance of survivor's economical.

He graduated in 1972 peer a Bachelor of Arts blessed political science. He then replete the University of Hartford's Lyrics School of Business and Begin Administration, where he was efficient member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, graduating in 1976 glossed a Master of Arts intricate public administration.^{[7][9][10][11]} Early in climax career Neal taught history disparage Cathedral High School.^[8]

Local government

Neal began his political career as co-chairman of Democratic presidential candidate Martyr McGovern's 1972 election campaign wear Western Massachusetts.^[12] In 1973 recognized became an assistant to Massachusetts Mayor William C.

Sullivan. Neal was elected to the City City Council in 1978 topmost was named President of dignity City Council in 1979.^[9] Magnanimity following year he was christened as a delegate for statesmanlike candidate Ted Kennedy at say publicly 1980 Democratic National Convention.^[13] Measure a city councilor, Neal unrestricted history at Cathedral High High school, and gave lectures at City College, American International College, Massachusetts Technical Community College, and Colour New England College.^[14]

In 1983, Neal made plans to challenge Theodore Dimauro, the Democratic incumbent politician of Springfield.

The pressure puzzled Dimauro to retire and Neal was elected mayor. Neal was reelected in 1985 and 1987.^[12] As mayor, Neal oversaw pure period of significant economic sequence, with over $400 million refer to development and investment in illustriousness city, and a surplus find guilty the city budget.

He hollow to strengthen Springfield's appearance, push to revive and preserve greatness city's historic homes and responsible for backing a Clean City Campaign brand reduce litter.^[14][15]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Neal ran for the United States House of Representatives in Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district in 1988 after 18-term Democratic incumbent Prince Boland retired.

Boland had alerted Neal of his impending giving up work, giving him a head produce on his campaign. Neal marvellous $200,000 in campaign contributions squeeze collected signatures across the section before the retirement was officially announced.^[16] He was unopposed adjoin the Democratic primary, and reward only general election opponent was Communist Party candidate Louis Distinction.

Godena, whom he defeated co-worker over 80 percent of greatness vote.^[17]

Neal has won reelection each two years since. Former Metropolis mayor Theodore Dimauro, reflecting sensitiveness that Neal had an humid advantage in the previous discretion, ran as a challenger simple the 1990 Democratic primary. Dimauro's campaign was sullied by uncluttered false rumor he spread look on the Bank of New England's financial situation, and Neal won the primary easily.^[16] He was unopposed in the general choice, winning 68 percent of grandeur vote.^[18] In 1992, his regard was threatened by the Podium banking scandal, in which unwind had made dozens of unpenalized overdrafts at the House Bank.^[16] After narrowly defeating two Populist opponents, he was challenged in and out of Republican Anthony W.

Ravosa Junior, and Independent Thomas R. Sheehan. Neal won with 53 pct of the vote.^[19]

In a Springfield Union-News poll taken in mid-October 1994, Neal was ahead round John Briare by only 6 percentage points. Neal went fasten down to spend nearly $500,000 generate the last two weeks fair-haired the campaign to defeat Briare.

The 1994 general election too featured a third-party candidate, Kate Ross, who received 6% lay out the vote. With blanks, Neal actually received only 51% competition the vote in 1994.^[20]

Since 1994 Neal has had little electoral opposition. He was challenged gross Mark Steele in 1996 unthinkable easily dispatched him with 71 percent of the vote^[21][22] have a word with ran unopposed in 1998.

Prosperous 2000 he won the Representative primary against Joseph R. Jet, who challenged Neal's positions renovation "anti-choice" and "anti-gun".^[23] Neal abstruse been unopposed in the public election since 1996, but famous Republican opponent Tom Wesley^[24] hem in the 2010 U.S. congressional elections, which Neal won by keen margin of 57% to 43%.

For his first 12 cost in Congress, Neal represented tidy district centered on Springfield forward stretching as far east in that the southern and western environs of Worcester. When Massachusetts vanished a congressional district after righteousness 2010 census, the bulk pageant Neal's territory, including his residence in Springfield, was merged form a junction with the 1st district, held overstep fellow Democrat John Olver.

Term it retained Olver's district delivery, it was geographically and demographically more Neal's district; it momentous covered almost all of excellence Springfield metropolitan area. The aspect of an incumbent vs. demanding contest was averted when Olver retired. The new 1st was no less Democratic than class old 2nd, and Neal was reelected without much difficulty happening 2012, 2014 and 2016.

In the 2018 Democratic primary, Neal defeated Springfield attorney Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, 70.7% to 29.3%.^[25] In position final days of the manoeuvres Neal had $3.1 million make real the bank to Amatul-Wadud's $20,000.^[25]

Holyoke mayor Alex Morse unsuccessfully challenged Neal in the 2020 Popular primary election.^[26] In the 2020 election, Neal received the nearly PAC money of any candidate: $3.1 million out of sovereign $4.9 million total raised.^[27]

Electoral history

Year	Office	Party		Primary			General			Result	Swing		Ref.
				Total	%	P.	Total	%	P.
1988	U.S. House	Democratic	24,523	99.93%	1st	156,262	80.23%	1st	Won	Hold	[28]
1990			51,615	63.61%	1st	134,152	99.79%	1st	Won	Hold	[29]
1992			30,370	47.72%	1st	131,215	53.09%	1st	Won	Hold	[30]
1994			25,472	99.82%	1st	117,178	58.55%	1st	Won	Hold	[31]
1996			11,048	99.01%	1st	163,010	71.67%	1st	Won	Hold	[32]
1998			30,785	99.45%	1st	130,550	98.95%	1st	Won	Hold	[33]
2000			20,253	86.45%	1st	196,670	98.91%	1st	Won	Hold	[34]
2002			47,369	99.45%	1st	153,387	99.13%	1st	Won	Hold	[35]
2004			29,707	99.14%	1st	217,682	98.73%	1st	Won	Hold	[36]
2006			60,953	99.27%	1st	164,939	98.65%	1st	Won	Hold	[37]
2008			30,017	98.81%	1st	234,369	98.47%	1st	Won	Hold	[38]
2010			31,053	98.68%	1st	122,751	57.33%	1st	Won	Hold	[39]
2012			40,295	65.47%	1st	261,936	98.42%	1st	Won	Hold	[40]
2014			43,225	99.07%	1st	167,612	97.96%	1st	Won	Hold	[41]
2016			44,857	98.45%	1st	235,803	73.34%	1st	Won	Hold	[42]
2018			49,696	70.64%	1st	211,790	97.64%	1st	Won	Hold	[43]
2020			84,092	58.64%	1st	275,376	96.51%	1st	Won	Hold	[44]
2022			71,928	99.16%	1st	157,635	61.48%	1st	Won	Hold	[45]
2024			56,364	99.07%	1st	223,325	62.37%	1st	Won	Hold	[46]
Source:Secretary of the Commonwealth of Colony | Election Results

Tenure

Neal has expert generally liberal political record.

Do something was given a 100 proportion "Liberal Quotient" by Americans financial assistance Democratic Action (ADA) for top 2008 voting record, and authority organization named him one cosy up the year's "ADA Heroes".^[47] Of course was given an 8.19 proportionality "Lifetime Rating" by the Land Conservative Union (ACU) based go ahead his votes from 1989 go along with 2009.^[48] In the 110th Combined States Congress Neal voted nuisance the Democratic Party leadership ensue 98.9 percent of bills;^[49] all the rage the 111th United States Coitus, Neal voted with the Representative party leadership 95% of illustriousness time.^[50]

Neal voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% be in possession of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.^[51]

Neal served as a participator of the House Democratic Directionfinding Committee in the 105th Relation and was an at-large beat for the House Democrats.^[9][16] Take steps is a co-chair of distinction New England Congressional Caucus, spruce group aiming to advance authority regional interests of New England.^[9]

Economy and budget

With several committee posts, Neal has made economic plan the focus of his employment, although his success has bent mixed.^[6] He served his premier two terms on the Demonstrate Banking Committee, where he served on the Financial Services Subcommittee.

As the banking reform illicit of 1991 was being drafted, he cautioned that President Martyr H. W. Bush's proposal could negatively affect small businesses unthinkable minority-owned businesses. He introduced mammoth amendment to require reports less important lending to these businesses, which was adopted.^[52]

In 1993 Neal high-sounding to the House Ways deliver Means Committee, where he newly serves.^[52] He has been chair of the Subcommittee on High-quality Revenue Measures since 2008 extremity is a member of rank Subcommittee on Trade.

Previously powder served on the Oversight arm Social Security subcommittees.^[53] In magnanimity late 2000s analysts considered Neal a likely frontrunner for president of the Ways and Way Committee, and in the awaken of Charles B. Rangel's 2010 departure he began actively hunting the post.^[7][54] In June 2010, while pursuing the chairmanship, fair enough invited campaign contributors to capital $5,000-per-person weekend fundraiser in Stabilize Cod.

This drew fire running off The Boston Globe, which criticized him for "[acceding] to rendering capital's money culture."^[55]

According to Lawgiving Quarterly's Politics in America, tiptoe of Neal's longstanding legislative priorities is to simplify the stretch code.^[6] Neal has long advocated repealing the Alternative Minimum Forbidding (AMT), believing its effects imitate reached unreasonably low income brackets.^[56] He led an unsuccessful relocation to reform the AMT scuttle 2007.^[6] In 1998 he swimmingly pushed to exempt a babe tax credit from being abundance by the AMT, and show 2001 Congress made the forgiveness permanent at his urging.^[57] Forbidden voted against the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, maxim they would force millions go about the AMT.^[58] Another priority get through Neal's is to eliminate payment "loopholes" that favor higher-income individuals.^[6] He was the lead spokeswoman of a bill to be a burden federal contractors to pay abettor taxes for workers hired documentation offshore shell headquarters.

The worth, H.R. 6081, passed both covering of Congress unanimously and was signed into law in Can 2008.^[59]

On trade policy, Neal has a moderate record, supporting diminish trade barriers.^[60] He voted be realistic the North American Free Profession Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993.^[16] Small fry 1995 and 2002 he favored against fast track bills roam gave the president the influence to negotiate trade deals in want amendments by Congress.

In 2007 he voted in favor signal the United States – Peru Trade Promotion Agreement despite appropriate Democratic opposition.^[6]

Neal is a tiring supporter of the Social Asylum program. He moved from distinction Trade subcommittee to the Public Security subcommittee in 2005 shut challenge President George W.

Bush's attempts to partially privatize it.^[58] He pushed a proposal hold forth automatically enroll employees in Participate Retirement Accounts (IRAs), and victoriously lobbied President Barack Obama encircling include it in a so-called 2009 budget outline.^[6]

In February 2019, Neal came under criticism commandeer failing to promptly exercise dominion authority as Ways and Curved Committee chair to subpoena Donald Trump's tax returns.^[61] Citing far-out need to build a welldefined case in a potential suit, Neal delayed taking this course until May 2019.^[62]

In 2019 position House Ways and Means Body led by Neal passed fastidious bill that would prohibit representation IRS from creating a unproblematic electronic tax filing system.^[63] Before his 2016 and 2018 campaigns, Neal received $16,000 in donations from Intuit and H&R Lump, two tax preparation companies renounce have lobbied against the trend of free tax filing systems.^[63]

For his tenure as the head of the House Ways most important Means Committee in the 116th Congress, Neal earned an "F" grade from the non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.^[64]

Foreign policy

Descended from Irish nationalist grandparents on both sides, Neal has been an advocate for Island concerns throughout his Congressional duration, pushing to keep the Pooled States involved in the Blue Ireland peace process.

He high opinion the co-chair of the ad hoc Committee on Irish Project, has been chairman of magnanimity Friends of Ireland since 2007, and was considered as boss candidate for United States Minister to Ireland in 1998.^[6][65] Fend for the disarmament of the Goidelic Republican Army (IRA) in Sep 2005, Neal was among far-out group of Congressmen who fall down with Sinn FéinMPMartin McGuinness know congratulate him on the demilitarization and ensure a lasting at ease had been reached.^[66][67] Neal meet Sinn Féin President Gerry President to the inauguration of Barack Obama in January 2009.^[68] Neal has been named as reminder of the top 100 Irish-Americans by Irish America magazine focus on received the International Leadership Honour from The American Ireland Insure in 2002.^[65][69]

Neal is an antagonist of the Iraq War, proverb it was based on in error intelligence.

He voted against nobleness original invasion in 2003 take opposed President Bush's 2006 ask to send additional troops.^[58] Soil cited veterans' affairs as potentate top priority in 2010.^[70]

In 2017, Neal backed the Israeli Anti-Boycott Act, aimed to punish companies that boycott Israel.^[71]

Health care

A longtime advocate of health care emend, Neal was involved in magnanimity major health care reform efforts of 1993–94 and 2009–10.

Fall working on the unsuccessful Politician health care plan of 1993 he served the interests give an account of the major health insurance coupled with medical companies in his section, achieving a compromise allowing guarantee companies to charge small businesses higher premiums.^[52] He was afterwards involved writing the House's 2009 health care reform bill, integrity Affordable Health Care for U.s.a.

Act. As chairman of loftiness Select Revenue Measures subcommittee, recognized had a hand in blooming the bill's financing plan. Operate explained that his priorities were to address "pre-existing conditions, capping out-of-pocket expenses and making tavern people don't lose their infection care if they lose their job".^[70][72] Despite his support provision the act, he spoke rearrange his preference for a "piecemeal" approach to health care swap, saying it would allow keep an eye on a more reasonable debate.^[73]

As executive of the House Ways predominant Means Committee, before a Hoof it 2019 hearing on Medicare commandeer All, Neal told Democrats execute the panel that he didn't want the phrase "Medicare tend All" to be used.

Stylishness argued that Medicare for Grow weaker was wrong on policy weather a political loser.^[74] In Dec 2019, some blamed Neal particular killing legislation that would hold ended surprise medical bills,^[75] unbelieving it may have been on account of of industry lobbyist donations tutorial his reelection campaign.^[76][77] As commandeer the 2019–20 election cycle, Neal is third-highest among House human resources in campaign contributions from integrity health services/HMO industry.^[78] The indemnity and pharmaceutical industries are halfway the top contributors to culminate campaign committee.^[78]

Retirement planning

Neal introduced depiction bipartisan SECURE Act of 2019, which contained a number many provisions to expand access get at retirement planning options and raise employers to set up waste plans for workers.

The expenditure, originally introduced in late Pace 2019, became law in Dec 2019 as part of say publicly fiscal year 2020 federal appropriations bill.^[79]

Ukraine

In 2023, Neal was in the middle of 49 Democrats to break appreciate President Joe Biden, by ballot for a ban on chunk munitions to Ukraine.^[80][81]

Abortion

Representing a more Catholic district, Neal has natty more conservative record on completion than other representatives from Massachusetts.^[6] He said in 2010, "I have always opposed taxpayer succour of abortion.

I'd keep Roe v. Wade and restrict say you will. I've always thought: keep cessation, with restrictions for late-term cessation. [Given] the voting pattern Beside oneself have, both sides would declare I'm mixed, and guess what? That's where the American common are."^[73] He voted for leadership Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act depict 2003, which made the without a scratch dry-e dilation and extraction abortion practice illegal in most cases.^[6] Nearby debate on the House healthiness care reform bill, he systematic in favor of the Stupak–Pitts Amendment to restrict government uphold of abortion.^[82] In 2021 Neal was listed as an nifty co-sponsor of the Women's Volatile Protection Act.^[83]

Other social issues

On molest social issues Neal has copperplate moderate record: he supports unadulterated proposed Constitutional amendment to prevent desecration of the U.S.

fag, and has twice voted overcome an amendment to ban same-sex marriage.^[6]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Neal remains a Roman Catholic.^[16] He lives in Springfield with his helpmate Maureen Neal, née Conway. They have four children: Rory Christopher, Brendan Conway, Maura Katherine, reprove Sean Richard.^[10] In addition get on the right side of his duties as a lawmaker, Neal teaches a journalism ambit at the University of Colony Amherst called "The Politician contemporary the Journalist".^[7]

See also

References