With 18 years of experience, Neal is a Director of Government Relations at ML Strategies. With more than 10 years’ experience in government and government relations, he focuses on issues related to transportation and infrastructure, clean energy, trade, and federal appropriations. Working with a client portfolio made up of nonprofits, clean energy start-ups, and large companies, Neal’s efforts have focused on increasing client visibility and influence with decision makers at the congressional and federal agency level, and providing strategic advice on public policy and federal funding opportunities.
Prior to joining ML Strategies, Neal served as a legislative assistant to then US Sen. Max Cleland, where he was responsible for numerous issues including appropriations, the environment, natural resources, international relations, trade, historic preservation, and smart growth.
Education
- University of Georgia (BA)
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – April 2021
March 31, 2021 |Blog
Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – March 2021
March 2, 2021 |Blog
Viewpoints
Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – April 2021
March 31, 2021 | Blog | By R. Neal Martin
House Republicans Reverse Course on Earmarks, Congressionally Directed Spending is Back
March 18, 2021 | Blog | By Frank C. Guinta, Anthony DeMaio
Since the Democrats reclaimed control of the House of Representatives in 2018, barrels of ink have been spilled on the topic of “congressionally-directed spending”. Better known as earmarks, this funding mechanism allows Members of Congress to send money directly to projects identified in their districts, largely bypassing the federal bureaucracy and its protracted grant application process. For more than a decade, the Congress has banned the practice of including congressionally-directed funding in spending bills. Now, Democrats in control of both chambers and the White House are poised to bring earmarks back. On March 17th, House Republicans voted to reverse the GOP Conference’s ten year-old ban on congressionally directed spending, paving the way for Members from both parties to make requests in upcoming spending and infrastructure bills.
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Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – March 2021
March 2, 2021 | Blog | By R. Neal Martin
As Walsh Awaits Confirmation Vote, DOL Priorities Take Shape
February 16, 2021 | Blog | By Anthony DeMaio, R. Neal Martin
Last week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions voted 18-4 to advance Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s nomination for labor secretary. The bipartisan approval signals a non-controversial confirmation vote of the full Senate. When that occurs, Secretary-designate Walsh will take over a department that is front and center in the nascent Biden administration. Executing White House priorities including the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the climate crisis, and reversing certain Trump era actions, will soon be Walsh’s responsibility. His experience in Massachusetts politics gives a sense of how Walsh will approach his new post.
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Transportation & Infrastructure: What to Expect from the Biden Administration & 117th Congress
February 4, 2021 | Blog | By Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, R. Neal Martin, Anthony DeMaio
With Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, Congress and President Biden’s new administration are working to quickly advance proposals to provide for economic relief as the nation continues to reel from the now nearly one-year pandemic. One area of emerging bipartisan focus is a long-sought measure to address the nation’s crumbling and outdated infrastructure, which could be paired with a required surface transportation reauthorization bill.
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Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – February 2021
January 27, 2021 | Article | By R. Neal Martin
Energy & Sustainability: What to Expect from the 117th Congress and the Biden Administration
January 15, 2021 | Blog | By R. Neal Martin
After what felt like one of the longest election seasons in history, Washington is preparing to welcome the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, Capitol Hill adjusts to a dramatic shift in power as Democrats achieved an election night stunner by winning both Senate run-off elections in Georgia on January 5, sending Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to Washington and giving Democrats a 50-seat majority with the new incoming vice president casting any tie votes. In the House of Representatives, Republicans narrowed the Democrats’ majority in November but are still in the minority and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has been reelected to serve as Speaker of the House.
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Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – January 2021
January 4, 2021 | Article | By R. Neal Martin
ML Strategies Lame Duck Update: Trade and China Tariffs
December 8, 2020 | Blog | By R. Neal Martin
Energy & Sustainability Washington Updates – December 2020
November 25, 2020 | Article | By R. Neal Martin
Events
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