{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mikebishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-confirms-40m-funding-request-necc-victims-approved-doj", "Bishop Confirms $40M Funding Request for NECC Victims Is Approved by DOJ", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Mike Bishop", "B001293", "mikebishop.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 As follow up to the news in July when $40 million in compensation was set aside for victims of the 2012 NECC fungal meningitis outbreak, Congressman Mike Bishop (MI-08) today announced the Department of Justice has approved the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s application for the funds. The funds are now available through the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s office, and all known victims and their families can learn how to apply for compensation at this link.\n\u201cThis is a reassuring step in our fight to get results for the victims of the NECC fungal meningitis outbreak,\u201d said Rep. Bishop. \u201cThese families have gone through unimaginable heartache losing loved ones, caring for the sick, and facing financial uncertainty for the last four years. We will never be able to undo their pain, but today we learned we are that much closer to getting them the help they need.\n\u201cI am grateful for the work of the Department of Justice and my House colleagues in our fight for justice, and I will continue working closely with the victims and their families moving forward. Michigan\u2019s Eighth District is a major epicenter of this tragedy, and it is my mission to see this through for them.\u201d\nOf the 778 Americans who became sick after receiving the NECC\u2019s tainted injections in 2012, at least 76 have died \u2013 including 19 in Michigan. In the 8th District, 15 people died and many others became sick after receiving the NECC\u2019s tainted steroid injections at a clinic in Livingston County.\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND\n \n\t\tIn October 2012, the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass., distributed contaminated steroid injections that were administered to patients from 23 states. After a two-year investigation, 14 individuals have been charged with 131 criminal acts, including a combined 25 counts of second degree murder in Michigan, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, and North Carolina.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tIn July of this year, the Department of Justice announced it has reprogrammed $40 million specifically for victims of this case. The funds come from federal criminal fines, penalties, and forfeited bail bonds. It does not include any taxpayer dollars.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tIn September, the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s office submitted the formal application to receive these funds, which was accepted before the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30, 2016). Since the NECC was located in their state, their office will handle all victims\u2019 claims from across the country.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tDue to the large number of people impacted, without the additional funding, claims submitted for compensation by these victims would have overburdened the existing compensation fund for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tVictims and families who have questions or would like to submit claims are asked to visit this link. Disbursement amounts will be determined on an individual basis, depending on payments and collections submitted in the claims process.\n\t\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-confirms-40m-funding-request-necc-victims-approved-doj"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0439222678542137, "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"}