Feal says Rogers called responders’ health issues a ‘New York problem’

Mike Rogers, a former member of Congress and the Republican candidate for Michigan’s open US Senate seat, voted twice against healthcare and other benefits for 9/11 first responders and survivors, according to congressional records cited by The Guardian. The outlet reported that Rogers also helped defeat other bills that would have provided benefits and healthcare to first responders nationwide.

The voting record emerged as Rogers sought to create controversy over old tweets posted by Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed about 9/11. The Guardian reported that Rogers falsely suggested El-Sayed, who is Muslim, said the US deserved the attack.

Rogers was among Republicans who voted against the 2010 James Zadroga Act, which funded healthcare for 9/11 first responders and survivors. The legislation was used in part to treat and monitor 40,000 people who worked in toxic conditions after the attack. Its funding also helped treat responders for over 50 types of cancer linked to exposures at Ground Zero.

During committee consideration, Rogers argued the legislation “jeopardizes the financial health of the United States.” He joined 156 other Republicans who voted against it, largely over its $5.1bn price tag. Seventeen GOP members broke from the party and supported it, and the final package passed the House over Rogers’ vote.

The vote drew sharp criticism this week from John Feal, a 9/11 first responder who has advocated and lobbied for legislation supporting benefit programs. A steel beam fell on Feal’s foot at Ground Zero, and he spent 11 weeks in the hospital. Part of his foot was amputated.

Feal told The Guardian he personally discussed the Zadroga legislation with Rogers on Congress’s floor during committee debate in which Feal testified. Feal said Rogers told him first responders’ health issues were a “New York problem” and asked: “Where is the money to help them going to come from?” Feal called Rogers’ opposition to 9/11 first responder benefits “a betrayal.”

“Here’s the thing: Republicans like Mike Rogers love cops and firefighters until one gets shot or burned in a fire and can’t do his job,” Feal said. “That’s their playbook. They say: ‘You’re a hero. Oh, wait, you’re sick? You’re a drain on the municipality and the federal government. Get out of here.’”

Republicans faced backlash in 2010 for their votes against the Zadroga legislation. Feal told CBS News at the time: “Whatever member of Congress voted against this bill, whether Republican or Democrat, should go to jail for manslaughter.”

Rogers’ record on first responder funding extended beyond the Zadroga Act. In 2002, he voted against adding funding for veterans’ healthcare and first responders to a bill that compensated New York City schools for 9/11-related expenses.

In 2011, Rogers voted for a homeland security appropriations bill that was controversial over deep cuts to state and local first responder funding and terrorism prevention funding. Several Republicans voted against the bill because of those issues.

In 2013 and 2014, Rogers voted against amendments to budget legislation that included billions in funding for first responders. In 2013, he also voted against a proposal to protect pensions for first responders.

Henry Yanez, a retired Michigan firefighter and Sterling Heights city council member, also criticized Rogers’ votes. Yanez, who has endorsed El-Sayed, was among those who went to New York City to support fire departments after the 9/11 attack. Sterling Heights is a suburb of Detroit.

“When you’re talking about the health and safety of our first responders, and now you’re going to kick the can down the road, you know – that’s a problem as far as I’m concerned,” Yanez said. “Mike Rogers – shame on him.”

Yanez said he was especially surprised because other Republicans in Michigan have supported first responders and Rogers was an FBI agent. “He should get it,” Yanez said.

Feal said he believes Rogers’ opposition to the bills is disqualifying. “Many members of Congress think they’re untouchable until they get humbled and get beat in an election,” Feal said. “Rogers is not invincible, and he’s just in this for himself.”

The Guardian reported that the disclosure about Rogers’ voting record followed an email Rogers sent supporters criticizing El-Sayed over his 9/11 comments. The outlet reported that Rogers appeared to lie about seeing Osama bin Laden’s body.

In a bold-typed section of the email, Rogers wrote: “I saw the dead body of Osama bin Laden with my own eyes, knowing that together, we had delivered justice for America.” Rogers was not in Pakistan when Bin Laden was killed by US special forces, nor was he in the White House Situation Room, where then-President Barack Obama and senior administration officials followed the raid.

Rogers spoke at an event on 31 August 2026 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He is competing with El-Sayed for Michigan’s open US Senate seat in a race The Guardian described as tight and one that could decide control of Congress during the next session.

The Rogers campaign did not respond to requests for comment from The Guardian.