At a time when misinformation and disinformation are plaguing our elections, facts should matter more than ever.

When it comes to who delivers results and resources for Massachusetts’s 1st Congressional District, it is an indisputable fact we are better off because Richie Neal is our congressman.

As Easthampton’s mayor since 2018, I’ve had a firsthand look at what it means for our community and our region having Richie represent us in Washington.

Easthampton is one of 83 cities and towns in the 1st Congressional District — the largest geographic district in Massachusetts — yet Richie is present and responsive to his constituents. He set the tone for accessibility on my first day as mayor, speaking at my inauguration and pledging to deliver for our needs.

And Richie has kept that promise, fighting for us every step of the way.

He delivered over $1.2 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding that helped more than 10,000 western Mass. businesses stay open during COVID. He visited Rock Valley Tool in Easthampton — joined by Abandoned Building Brewing, Riverside Industries, River Valley Co-op, and Nini’s Ristorante, all businesses in Easthampton that benefited from the PPP. He wrote the American Rescue Plan, which provided stimulus checks to working families when we needed it most.

He’s delivered over $400 million for western Mass. through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, laws he helped author, that are improving our infrastructure and making us more climate resilient, including funds for Route 10 right here in Easthampton.

He delivered over $100 million for west-east rail that will connect western Mass. to Boston, and additional millions for increased rail service connecting western Mass. to New Haven with stops in Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, and Springfield.

He delivered over $260 million for a new Veterans’ Home in Holyoke so western Mass. veterans can live and receive care in a state-of-the-art facility.

Richie has delivered nearly $43 million in community project funding for western Mass. communities, including almost $1 million to upgrade water infrastructure in Easthampton, which is critical for our residents and businesses as we grow our housing stock.

Beyond delivering federal funding to western Mass., Richie knows that good policy changes lives, because he’s lived it. He and his sisters got by on Social Security Survivor’s Benefits after their parents died, and that’s why Richie is the strongest advocate in Congress for preserving and protecting Social Security. He helped write the Affordable Care Act, which has expanded health care to 50 million people. Since Republicans got their wish and overturned Roe v. Wade, Richie has been fighting to restore access to abortion.

With Richie representing us in Washington, we get more than our fair share because he’s never forgotten where he came from.

This is not an opinion, but a fact.

I ask you to join me in voting to reelect Richie Neal so he can keep fighting — and delivering — for us.

Nicole LaChapelle is the mayor of Easthampton.