Republican seeking to implicate Abdul El-Sayed over 9/11 voted twice against benefits for first responders

Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican US Senate candidate, has sought in recent weeks to create controversy over old tweets his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed posted about 9/11. He has for example, falsely suggested El-Sayed, who is Muslim, said the US deserved the attack.

But, as critics have noted, Rogers has twice voted against healthcare and other benefits for 9/11 first responders and survivors, congressional records show. He has also helped kill other bills that would have provided benefits and healthcare to first responders nationwide. Rogers, a former member of Congress, is vying for Michigan’s open US Senate seat in a tight race that could decide control of Congress during the next session.

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

In committee, Rogers argued it “jeopardizes the financial health of the United States”. Rogers was joined by 156 other Republicans who voted against it, largely over its $5.1bn price tag, but 17 GOP members broke from the party and supported it. The final package passed the House over Rogers’ vote.

That drew sharp criticism this week from John Feal, a 9/11 first responder who has advocated and lobbied for legislation supporting benefit programs, and who spent 11 weeks in the hospital after a steel beam fell on his foot at ground zero. 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?”

He 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.’”

The Rogers campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

The revelation comes after Rogers sent an email to supporters criticizing El-Sayed over his 9/11 comments, and 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.”

But 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.

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

In 2002, Rogers voted against adding additional funding for veterans’ healthcare and first responders to a bill that compensated NYC schools for 9/11-related expenses.

In 2011, Rogers voted for a homeland security appropriations bill that was controversial over its deep cuts to funding for state and local first responders, as well as terrorism prevention funding. Several Republicans voted against it because of those issues. In 2013 and 2014, Rogers voted against amendments for budget legislation that included billions in funding for first responders. And in 2013 he voted against a proposal to protect pensions for first responders.

Henry Yanez, a retired Michigan firefighter, now a city council member in Sterling Heights, a suburb of Detroit, who has endorsed El-Sayed, was among those who went to New York City to support their fire departments in the 9/11 attack’s wake. He criticized Rogers for his votes.

“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 is 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 are 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.”