Richard E. Neal

Democrats line up against gas tax holiday

Position: House Democrats oppose a federal gas tax holiday, arguing it would deplete the highway trust fund and undermine infrastructure funding without guaranteeing savings to consumers. They contend the underlying cause of high gas prices should be addressed instead.

House Democrats are lining up against a gas tax holiday, creating additional barriers for President Trump as he struggles to battle inflation and the rising costs at the pump. The president this week proposed a moratorium on the federal tax, currently 18.4 cents per gallon, in an effort to provide some relief to drivers as fuel costs continue to spike in the midst of the war with Iran. But Democrats are warning that eliminating the gas tax would undermine the highway trust fund, at the expense of infrastructure projects, without much guarantee that the savings would be passed down to consumers. They say the better strategy is to tackle the problem at its root by ending the conflict with Iran. “His policies on energy and the war in Iran drove gas prices up, so now he’s saying: Let’s get rid of the tax rather than dealing with the real problem that he has created without a strategy,” said Rep. Richard Neal (Mass.), the senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. “The trust fund is already ailing, because it just doesn’t collect the kind of revenue it once did.” “My concern is that you’re going to take a lot of money away from the federal government when we’re already running a large deficit,” said a second Democratic lawmaker. “And 18 cents can vanish in a second.” The resistance comes as gas prices have shot up as a result of trade disruptions resulting from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which was launched on Feb. 28. On Wednesday, the nationwide average hit $4.51 per gallon, according to AAA, up from $4.13 a month ago and $3.16 a year ago. The trend has had the downstream effect of increasing costs on countless other consumer goods and services, including groceries and air travel. The spike in fuel costs was a major factor driving inflation up to 3.8 percent last month — the highest rate since May of 2023, according to the Labor Department — and it’s creating a huge liability for Trump and Republicans as they race to keep control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Facing high disapproval ratings, Trump on Monday proposed a solution, saying the administration would push for a temporary gas tax holiday to help ease the pain on consumer wallets. “I think it’s a great idea,” Trump told CBS News. “Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.” But to adopt that policy, Trump will need Congress’s approval. And while a number of the president’s Republican allies are jumping on board to support the plan, GOP leaders in the Capitol are approaching much more cautiously. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the tax moratorium “may help,” but has not endorsed the concept or committed to moving any legislation to the floor. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) was even more skeptical, proposing that “the best way” to bring fuel costs down would be to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been essentially locked down amid the war. “We do have a Highway Trust Fund,” Thune added, “and it does perform an important service in making sure that we’ve got highways and roadways across our country that are serviceable.” Democrats tend to agree. They had been cold to the idea of pausing the gas tax when it was proposed by President Biden in 2022, when gas topped $5 a gallon. Now, with a Republican in the White House, that opposition comes even easier. “So it’ll cut money for projects to rebuild roads and bridges? No. End the war. And if you want to do a gas tax holiday, you’ve got to find a way to offset it,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). “I’m a liberal, and I care about the deficit and the debt,” he added. “These other guys don’t give a s—.” Not all Democrats oppose the idea of pausing the gas tax. In fact, several have introduced legislation of their own to do just that. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) is one of them. His bill aims to address some of the concerns surrounding the strategy. It backfills the loss in highway fund revenue, for instance, by tapping into the government’s general fund to ensure that infrastructure projects aren’t halted. And it includes penalties for oil and gas companies that don’t pass the savings on to drivers. Pappas acknowledged that 18 cents is a “modest” reduction given the current price of a gallon. But for consumers who are getting squeezed by rising costs on multiple fronts, he argued, any assistance will help. “They’re experiencing sticker shock, and while cutting it would be modest, we should be doing everything possible to lower prices,” said Pappas, who is running for the Senate in November. Most Democrats, however, are much more critical. They’ve hammered Trump for launching the Iran conflict to begin with, characterizing it as a “war of choice.” Now that the conflict has led directly to a spike in consumer costs, they say the best solution is simply to end the war. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, compared the situation to her experiences advocating to end the wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua in the 1980s. “They found that in El Salvador, there were bodies floating down the river. And people were wringing their hands about why the bodies were there. My point was: Go to the [source] of the river and figure out who’s throwing them into the river. OK?” she said. “In this instance, let’s focus on why this war of choice has created the economic chaos that it has in people’s lives,” she continued. “Whether it’s gas, whether it’s home heating oil, whatever it is — end that. End that, and we will get back on course.” By Tracey Longo, Financial Advisor A top congressional Democrat is asking a federal watchdog to scrutinize the... WASHINGTON, DC— As alternative investment vehicles become more readily available, Ways and Means Committee... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier U.S. Representative Richard Neal said he believes... By Brian Faler, POLITICO Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly... SPRINGFIELD, MA— Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following... WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his...

Democratic Rep Asks For Probe Of Private Credit In 401(k)s

Position: Rep. Neal requests federal investigation into the risks of private credit investments in 401(k) plans, citing concerns about opacity, valuation reliability, and conflicts of interest as regulators move to expand retail access to alternative assets.

By Tracey Longo, Financial Advisor A top congressional Democrat is asking a federal watchdog to scrutinize the growing push to bring private credit investments into 401(k) plans, warning that retirement savers could be exposed to opaque risks and conflicts of interest just as regulators move to open the door wider to alternative assets. Rep. Richard Neal, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office on May 8 asking the government watchdog to dig into how private credit investments could affect defined contribution retirement plans. The request comes as the Department of Labor weighs a proposed safe harbor rule that industry observers say could make it easier for plan fiduciaries to add private-market exposure—including private credit—to 401(k) investment menus. “Investment of retirement assets in private credit has largely been limited to defined benefit plans, but the DOL recently issued a proposed safe harbor rule that may encourage the increased use of investments with allocations to private credit and other alternative assets by defined contribution plan sponsors,” Neal wrote in the letter. Private credit—broadly defined as nonbank lending conducted outside public debt markets—has exploded into a multi-trillion-dollar asset class over the past decade as institutional investors have hunted for higher yields. While historically associated with pension funds, endowments and wealthy investors, the asset class is increasingly being packaged into products aimed at retail investors and retirement savers. Neal said the Trump administration’s broader policy push to expand retail investor access to alternative investments is accelerating that trend. According to the letter, regulators including the DOL and Securities and Exchange Commission are now operating under an executive order to encourage “democratizing access to alternative assets, including private credit.” The administration and industry supporters argue that giving retirement savers access to private markets could improve diversification and potentially enhance long-term returns. Proponents also contend that private credit may provide yield opportunities unavailable in traditional fixed-income markets. But critics say the rapid expansion of private assets into retirement accounts raises major fiduciary and operational concerns. Neal pointed to “very concerning reports” of private credit funds freezing or limiting investor redemptions and facing downgrades from ratings agencies. He also warned that private credit markets operate outside the “relatively strict and transparent regulation” governing public debt markets and banks. “Because private credit operates outside of the relatively strict and transparent regulation of public credit … and banking regulation, we have concerns about the reliability of valuations for these assets and the exposure of plan participants’ retirement savings to an unknown level of risk,” Neal wrote. Industry critics have also questioned whether average 401(k) investors fully understand the liquidity constraints, fee structures and valuation complexities associated with private-market investments. Unlike publicly traded bonds or stocks, private credit holdings are often difficult to price and may not be easily sold during periods of market stress. That dynamic could create headaches for plan fiduciaries already operating under strict obligations to act in participants’ best interests. In his letter, Neal asked the GAO to examine several issues, including the extent to which current 401(k) investment options already have exposure to private credit through mutual funds, exchange-traded funds or collective investment trusts. He also asked the agency to study fee levels, conflicts of interest and how retirement plans manage liquidity and transparency concerns tied to the asset class. The Massachusetts Democrat also requested that the GAO evaluate what regulatory actions, if any, may be needed “to help plan participants, plan sponsors and other fiduciaries to balance the risks and benefits of private credit in retirement plans.” The debate over private assets in defined contribution plans has intensified as large asset managers and alternative investment firms race to tap the trillions of dollars sitting in the U.S. retirement market. The Labor Department’s proposed rule, titled “Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives,” remains under review following a public comment period. The proposal seeks to provide a process that fiduciaries could use when selecting investment alternatives, including products with exposure to alternative assets. While Republicans currently control Congress, Neal remains one of Washington’s most influential voices on retirement policy. He previously chaired the Ways and Means Committee and played a central role in shaping both the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 retirement legislation. By Mike Lillis, The Hill House Democrats are lining up against a gas tax holiday, creating additional barriers for... WASHINGTON, DC— As alternative investment vehicles become more readily available, Ways and Means Committee... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier U.S. Representative Richard Neal said he believes... By Brian Faler, POLITICO Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly... SPRINGFIELD, MA— Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following... WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his...

Neal Requests GAO Report on Private Credit in Retirement Plans

Position: Rep. Neal requested a GAO review of private credit investments in retirement plans, expressing concern that private credit operates with less regulatory oversight and transparency than public credit, creating unknown risks to workers' retirement savings.

WASHINGTON, DC— As alternative investment vehicles become more readily available, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the impact that investing in private credit has on retirement plans. While the Administration rolls more regulations back on investments historically associated with wealthier investors, Neal is fighting to ensure American workers’ best interests are at front of mind, not Wall Street’s pockets. “Because private credit operates outside of the relatively strict and transparent regulation of public credit and banking regulations, we have concerns about the reliability of valuations for these assets and the exposure of plan participants’ retirement savings to an unknown level of risk, Ranking Member Neal wrote to GAO. “Given the significant responsibility that plans and plan participants face in selecting investment options to grow and safeguard their retirement savings, and the known and unknown risks of investing in private credit, we would like GAO to answer the following questions.” Ranking Member Neal has been out front in the fight to protect retirement savings. In 2024, GAO released a similar report requested by Neal that analyzed the impact of cryptocurrency in 401(K) plans. By Mike Lillis, The Hill House Democrats are lining up against a gas tax holiday, creating additional barriers for... By Tracey Longo, Financial Advisor A top congressional Democrat is asking a federal watchdog to scrutinize the... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier U.S. Representative Richard Neal said he believes... By Brian Faler, POLITICO Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly... SPRINGFIELD, MA— Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following... WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his...

Neal: Gas prices are hurting the national economy

Position: Rep. Neal argues that high gasoline prices are damaging the national economy and that President Trump's hasty approach to the Iran conflict without a clear plan has contributed to the crisis. He suggests the situation represents a stalemate rather than the success the administration claims.

May 11, 2026 | Featured, In the News New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier U.S. Representative Richard Neal said he believes skyrocketing gasoline prices are hampering the nation's economy. AAA reported last week the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was up $0.31 in Massachusetts when compared to the previous week. Neal, a Springfield Democrat, said there are signs the economy is stagnating and investors are not as active. He added Americans are especially feeling the pain at the gas pump, combined with the rising costs of other goods. "If you're a minimum wage employee in Massachusetts, that means you're likely working one day a week just to fill up your gas tank," Neal said. "That, I think, is holding back the economy coupled with many of the President's positions as they relate to immigration." A recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll found eight in 10 Americans said that surging gas prices are causing a financial strain and they place the blame squarely on President Trump. Neal said that discontent could help Democrats take back at least the House during this fall's mid-term elections. Of course, the spike in gasoline and oil prices is a direct result of the war with Iran. Talks for a peace deal had been taking place last week as a cease fire has continue to hold. President Trump has touted the talks, called the war a victory for the U.S, while also threatening more military action if the talks break down. Neal said the whole situation with Iran is a “stalemate.” "But the fact that the president decided to do this with great haste without a plan has also held back the story he would like everybody to believe that once again that this has been a stunning success," he said. As of Monday morning, President Trump has rejected Iran’s latest response to a U.S. peace proposal as “totally unacceptable." This comes after the U.S. fired on two Iranian tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after exchanging fire with Iranian forces last week. By Mike Lillis, The Hill House Democrats are lining up against a gas tax holiday, creating additional barriers for... By Tracey Longo, Financial Advisor A top congressional Democrat is asking a federal watchdog to scrutinize the... WASHINGTON, DC— As alternative investment vehicles become more readily available, Ways and Means Committee... By Brian Faler, POLITICO Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly... SPRINGFIELD, MA— Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following... WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his...

Neal Statement on April 2026 Jobs Report

Position: Rep. Neal criticizes the April 2026 jobs report as showing stagnant job growth with wage stagnation, rising prices across multiple sectors, and particular hardship for younger workers. He opposes the Republican budget proposal, characterizing it as failing to address inflation and cost-of-living pressures on families.

May 8, 2026 | Featured, Press Releases SPRINGFIELD, MA— Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the April 2026 jobs report: “Zoom out and the story of this report is clear: a job market stagnant, with constant revisions that cancel out any steps forward, wages that can’t keep up with the President’s inflation, and younger workers struggling to enter the workforce. Americans have had all they can handle from the Trump economy. “Everywhere you turn there’s a Trump price hike waiting. With 50% higher prices at the pump and the cost to fly going up 20%, families are feeling the weight of his failures. The already-high grocery prices are only going up as farmers and businesses must contend with Trump spiking the cost of fertilizer and diesel. How are families supposed to weather something an airline couldn’t? “Republicans remain on the sidelines as families pay the price for Trump’s iron fist. Their latest budget proposal is more betrayal, with nothing to rein in this pain. Instead, a blank check for a lawless immigration agenda and $1 billion for a ballroom that Trump promised taxpayers they’d never foot the bill for. With Republicans in charge, it’s all broken promises and no results for you." By Mike Lillis, The Hill House Democrats are lining up against a gas tax holiday, creating additional barriers for... By Tracey Longo, Financial Advisor A top congressional Democrat is asking a federal watchdog to scrutinize the... WASHINGTON, DC— As alternative investment vehicles become more readily available, Ways and Means Committee... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier U.S. Representative Richard Neal said he believes... By Brian Faler, POLITICO Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly... WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his...

Neal plans broad tax agenda if House control changes

Position: Democrats plan to focus Ways and Means Committee oversight on tax policy issues, including the impact of Republican tax cuts on wealthy taxpayers and IRS funding and operations, rather than pursuing Trump's tax returns.

Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly making plans. The Massachusetts Democrat has a clear path back into the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee and, behind the scenes, he’s laying the groundwork for a second stint as his party’s point man on all things tax, as well as trade, health care and Social Security. Democrats appear poised to retake the House, and Rep. Richard Neal is quietly making plans. The Massachusetts Democrat has a clear path back into the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee and, behind the scenes, he’s laying the groundwork for a second stint as his party’s point man on all things tax, as well as trade, health care and Social Security. “There’s been conversations — for sure,” Neal said in an interview. The last time Neal had the job, during President Donald Trump’s first term, he became the face of Democrats’ long-running bid to release Trump’s long-hidden tax returns — an ultimately successful fight that nevertheless came with loads of grief for the congenitally affable lawmaker. Neal has never been progressives’ favorite, and many at the time were openly — and loudly — skeptical that his heart was in the tax return fight, which ended up at the Supreme Court in 2022. While Democrats were ultimately successful in releasing six years’ worth of Trump’s tax returns, the committee did not love how policing Trump’s tax returns eclipsed much of the rest of its work. And though Trump is once again bucking the decades-old tradition of presidents voluntarily releasing their returns, Democrats see a long list of more pressing issues demanding the committee’s attention. Among them: how Trump and his family have personally benefited from government decisions; Trump’s unusual $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS stemming from the leak of his tax returns by an agency contractor to the media; the IRS’s decision to share taxpayer information with the Department of Homeland Security for its mass deportation campaign; Frank Bisignano serving as the day-to-day head of the IRS in the novel — and unconfirmed — role of chief executive officer; and the ongoing fallout from the steep cuts to the agency’s workforce last year. Neal is noncommittal about the prospect of once again forcing the release of Trump’s returns by tapping an arcane power allowing the heads of Congress’ tax committee to examine anyone’s private tax information. “To be honest, we haven’t talked about that,” he said. Some Ways and Means Democrats are skeptical about a replay of that fight. “I’m not sure what the payoff was,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), a senior member of the panel. “We shouldn’t be looking at his tax returns in a vengeful way anyway.” Democrats are also eager to shift the conversation in Congress back to the question of how much wealthy people pay in taxes, especially in the wake of Republicans’ 2025 tax cuts. “Typically, oversight on Ways and Means isn’t that sexy of a role, but in the Trump administration, it will be a very big deal,” Beyer said. Expect “a lot,” he added. Democrats hope to move legislation, too, though it won’t be easy finding agreement with Trump. But lawmakers will probably have to raise the federal debt limit next year, which could give them leverage to press their demands on the administration. Near the top of their list: extending Obamacare health insurance subsidies, something lawmakers have battled over for months; re-upping wind, solar and other renewable energy tax provisions Republicans targeted last year in their “big, beautiful bill"; and a mishmash of temporary tax provisions that have expired, like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. There’s only so much Neal, 77, can plan out at the moment — and much will depend on what happens Nov. 3. The committee’s agenda will look very different, for example, if Republicans hang onto control of the Senate, and Neal is negotiating with Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), rather than Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), currently that panel’s ranking member who is also eager to reclaim leadership of the committee he once helmed. Much will depend on the House results too. Democrats already know they have to replace Reps. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Danny Davis of Illinois, both of whom are retiring, as well as Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands, who is running for governor of the Caribbean territory. But two longtime tax writers, Reps. John Larson of Connecticut and Mike Thompson of California, are trying to fend off credible primary challengers. Depending on the results of the election, Democrats could end up with somewhere in the neighborhood of a dozen seats to fill on the committee. Already, a line of lawmakers hoping to join the panel has begun to form. More than a dozen want on, including Reps. Marilyn Strickland of Washington, Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky and Tim Kennedy of New York. Another big change in the offing: There will be a lot more women in charge. Thanks to seniority, there could be, for the first time, women running four of the panel’s six subcommittees: Reps. Linda Sanchez of California, Terri Sewell of Alabama, Suzan DelBene of Washington and Judy Chu of California. Currently, there are none. That will be an important milestone on a committee that has long been dominated by men, said Sanchez. “We each bring lived experiences of what it’s like to struggle that many of our male colleagues will not understand because they haven’t been in our situations,” she said. “Having so many women moving up in seniority now means that we have an opportunity to use those perspectives and our legislative ideas to try to make things more balanced — to try to make things less tilted against women.” By Mike Lillis, The Hill House Democrats are lining up against a gas tax holiday, creating additional barriers for... By Tracey Longo, Financial Advisor A top congressional Democrat is asking a federal watchdog to scrutinize the... WASHINGTON, DC— As alternative investment vehicles become more readily available, Ways and Means Committee... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier U.S. Representative Richard Neal said he believes... SPRINGFIELD, MA— Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following... WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his...

Neal Statement on Latest Trump Data Exposure

Position: Rep. Neal criticizes the Trump Administration for exposing Social Security numbers of Medicare providers in a new database and calls on House Republicans to investigate the data breach and demand accountability.

SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the Washington Post discovered the Trump Administration exposed Social Security numbers in a new Medicare database: “Enough is enough. The more we learn about how the Trump Administration handles the people’s most sensitive data, the clearer their incompetence becomes. Ways and Means Democrats have been sounding the alarm for well over a year, only to be ignored and utterly dismissed by House Republicans. Now, we learn the Trump Administration didn’t even realize it was advertising the Social Security numbers of Medicare providers in their latest half-baked database until they were told by the Washington Post. If that’s not enough to compel House Republicans to investigate, what will it take? Do House Republicans need to see their own data exposed before they do right by their constituents and act? “The people need answers, and we won’t stop fighting until we get them.” WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier The Supreme Court has weakened a landmark Civil Rights-era... Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after the Supreme Court... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the strong, bipartisan work by our... By Ray O'Hanlon, Irish Echo Richard Neal was just a couple of years into his congressional career when Queen... Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after the announcement... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Rightfully feeling the heat of the public’s anger, the...

Medicare portal database exposed health providers’ Social Security numbers

It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of health providers. By Dan Diamond and Clara Ence Morse, Washington Post The Trump administration inadvertently exposed the Social Security numbers of health care providers in a database powering a new Medicare portal, The Washington Post found. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last year created a directory to help seniors look up which doctors and medical providers accept which insurance plans, framing it as an overdue improvement and part of the Trump administration’s initiative to modernize health care technology. But a publicly accessible database used to populate the directory contains some of the providers’ Social Security numbers, linked to their names and other identifying information. For at least several weeks, CMS made the database available for public use as part of its data transparency efforts. The files are not immediately visible to users who visit the provider directory. The Post downloaded the database and identified at least dozens of Social Security numbers belonging to health care providers while reviewing a sample of rows. CMS did not respond to questions about how many providers’ Social Security numbers were exposed, whether it had notified the individual providers and other details about the incident. The Post informed health officials on Tuesday that the numbers had been exposed, giving the agency time to take down the database, and contacted some of the affected providers, who said they were confused and concerned. “I don’t even know how [Medicare officials] would get my Social Security number,” said one physician, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid the risk of identity theft. CMS officials said they are working to fix the problem that led to the exposure. A spokesperson said the problem “stems from incorrect entries of provider or provider-representative-supplied information in the wrong places” — essentially, that providers entered information in the wrong place and left their own Social Security numbers exposed. “The agency has taken steps to address it promptly and reinforce safeguards around data submission and validation,” CMS said in a statement. After this article published, several Democrats said Friday that they had concerns about the agency’s handling of sensitive data and demanded answers. Rep. Richard E. Neal (Massachusetts), the top Democrat on a House committee that oversees CMS, called on Republicans who control the chamber to launch an investigation. “The more we learn about how the Trump Administration handles the people’s most sensitive data, the clearer their incompetence becomes,” Neal said in a statement. “Do House Republicans need to see their own data exposed before they do right by their constituents and act?” The directory is part of a broader initiative that includes plans for a new national directory of health care providers, led by Amy Gleason, the acting administrator of the U.S. DOGE Service and a senior CMS official. The project has faced several setbacks. The Post last year reported that an early version of directory was rife with errors, including misidentifying which health care providers were covered by which health care plans. Trump administration officials have said the directory will simplify the process for patients searching for health care practitioners by tapping the reach of the federal government. “We felt like this is a good-use case of the government actually doing something,” Gleason said in remarks last year. Some Democrats have raised concerns about its launch. “We are concerned that this rushed rollout will mislead millions of seniors as they compare plans, and may cause seniors and people with disabilities to incur medical bills they reasonably believed would be covered,” Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) wrote in November to CMS officials. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz and his deputies have defended the project. “We remain committed to continuously improving the services we provide through Medicare.gov and Plan Finder, and to ensuring that all people with Medicare can make informed choices about their health coverage with confidence and transparency,” Oz wrote to Merkley and Wyden last month. Aaron Schaffer contributed to this report. WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier The Supreme Court has weakened a landmark Civil Rights-era... Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after the Supreme Court... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the strong, bipartisan work by our... By Ray O'Hanlon, Irish Echo Richard Neal was just a couple of years into his congressional career when Queen... Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after the announcement... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Rightfully feeling the heat of the public’s anger, the...

Neal Statement on Expanding Retirement Savings Through Auto IRA Legislation

Position: Rep. Neal supports expanding retirement savings access through his automatic IRA legislation as a durable, legislative approach to help workers without employer-sponsored plans. He argues that legislative action is preferable to executive orders for producing lasting results.

WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order to expand access to retirement plans, made possible by the SECURE 2.0 Act: “Millions of American workers still lack the benefit of employer-sponsored retirement plans to get a fair shot at a retirement. As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, I wrote and guided SECURE 2.0 into law, making saving easier, and now, that legacy is driving today’s executive order. Because of our Saver’s Match, low- and moderate-income Americans will have the opportunity to receive up to $1,000 in matching contributions from the federal government. “Our bipartisan work is going to give a leg up to millions of Americans, but it can’t end here. Governing by executive order doesn’t produce the durable, sustaining results that the people deserve, and the Trump Administration’s habit of rolling out flashy, Trump-branded websites one week and forgetting to follow with any substance the next is another reason why Congress must take the lead here. The most serious path forward to protect and expand savings opportunities for workers is my automatic IRA bill. It’s a proven pathway and advancing it legislatively ensures lasting help to those who need it most.” WATCH HERE By Areta Odiah, 22 News LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Jenny Lu, a senior at Longmeadow High School, has... WATCH HERE By Claire Overton, 22 News WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first F-35 stealth fighter jet is scheduled to... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... It is the latest technical problem related to the Trump administration’s push to create a national directory of... WATCH HERE by: Lindsey Genatossio SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Indian Orchard Elementary School celebrated Arbor Day... WATCH HERE By Kayleigh Thomas, 22 News SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Congressman Richard Neal is expressing his... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier The Supreme Court has weakened a landmark Civil Rights-era... Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after the Supreme Court... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the strong, bipartisan work by our... By Ray O'Hanlon, Irish Echo Richard Neal was just a couple of years into his congressional career when Queen... Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after the announcement... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Rightfully feeling the heat of the public’s anger, the...