{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mikebishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-applauds-disbursement-necc-victim-compensation-payments", "Bishop Applauds Disbursement of NECC Victim Compensation Payments", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Mike Bishop", "B001293", "mikebishop.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Congressman Mike Bishop, whose district was\u00a0hardest-hit by the NECC fungal meningitis outbreak of 2012, released the following statement applauding the disbursement of NECC victim compensation payments.\u00a0\n\u201cI\u2019d like to thank the public servants in the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s Office for their hard work to deliver compensation funds to the victims of the 2012 NECC fungal meningitis outbreak. As all of those affected know, the civil settlement funds provided by the NECC were woefully short of those needed to compensate victims for their hospital stays, injuries and the irrevocable change in their way of life. That is why I fought so hard to have $40 million set aside for these victims. While no dollar amount will ever make these victims whole, I am happy to know that victims are finally getting some much-needed additional financial help.  \n\t\u00a0\n\u201cI strongly encourage all victims of this deadly outbreak to apply to the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s Office by March 1, 2018, and submit any additional documentation that may be required to become eligible for additional compensation.\u201d\nInformation about applying for compensation\n \n\t\tThe Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s office is currently establishing a process through which claims will be disbursed. To be eligible for these funds, victims must apply by March 1, 2018 (please note, that date has changed from the previous deadline of December 15, 2017). After the applicant\u2019s case is verified, they will be eligible to receive a direct payment of $25,000, with the option to submit additional documentation to receive compensation beyond that amount.\n\t\n \nBACKGROUND\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mikebishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-applauds-disbursement-necc-victim-compensation-payments"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7409911379218102, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}