Key facts
- Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers voted against the James Zadroga Act in 2010.
- Rogers argued the Zadroga Act "jeopardizes the financial health of the United States".
- John Feal, a 9/11 first responder, called Rogers' opposition to benefits "a betrayal".
- Rogers was not present when Osama bin Laden was killed, despite claiming to have seen his body.
- Henry Yanez, a retired Michigan firefighter, criticized Rogers' votes against first responder benefits.
Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Michigan, has been criticized for his past votes against providing healthcare and other benefits to 9/11 first responders and survivors. Critics point to his votes against the James Zadroga Act in 2010 and other related legislation, arguing that his opposition, which he justified by citing financial concerns for the United States, constitutes a betrayal of those who responded to the attacks.
Rogers was among 156 Republicans who voted against the Zadroga Act, which provided funding for the treatment and monitoring of individuals exposed to toxic conditions at Ground Zero. He argued at the time that the bill "jeopardizes the financial health of the United States." The bill ultimately passed the House despite his vote.
John Feal, a 9/11 first responder who has lobbied for such legislation, told The Guardian that Rogers had previously dismissed first responders' health issues as a "New York problem" and questioned the funding sources. Feal described Rogers' stance as a "betrayal" and suggested a pattern of Republicans supporting first responders only in rhetoric.
Further scrutiny has arisen from Rogers' recent campaign tactics, including an email to supporters criticizing his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, over his 9/11 comments. Rogers also claimed to have "seen the dead body of Osama bin Laden with my own eyes," a claim disputed by reports indicating he was not present during the raid.
In addition to the 2010 Zadroga Act vote, records show Rogers voted against adding funding for veterans' healthcare and first responders in 2002. In 2011, he supported a homeland security bill that included cuts to first responder funding, and in 2013 and 2014, he voted against budget amendments and a proposal to protect first responders' pensions.