Hal Rogers
Official portrait, 2010
46th Dean of the United States House of Representatives
Assumed office
March 18, 2022
Preceded byDon Young
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byDave Obey
Succeeded byRodney Frelinghuysen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 5th district
Assumed office
January 3, 1981
Preceded byTim Lee Carter
Commonwealth Attorney of Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties
In office
1969–1981
Preceded byHomer Neikirk
Succeeded byLester Burns
Personal details
Born
Harold Dallas Rogers

(1937-12-31) December 31, 1937
Barrier, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Shirley McDowell
​
​
(m. 1958; died 1995)​
    Cynthia Doyle
    ​
    (m. 1999)​
    Children3
    EducationUniversity of Kentucky (BA, LLB)
    WebsiteHouse website
    Military service
    Allegiance United States
    Branch/service United States Army
    Years of service1956–1964
    UnitKentucky Army National Guard
    North Carolina Army National Guard

    Harold Dallas Rogers (born December 31, 1937) is an American lawyer and politician serving his 22nd term as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 5th congressional district, having served since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party. Upon Don Young's death in 2022, Rogers became the dean of the House of Representatives.

    Born in Barrier, Kentucky, Rogers graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degree. He entered private practice after serving in the National Guard for the states of Kentucky and North Carolina. In 1969, he became the commonwealth's attorney for the counties of Pulaski and Rockcastle, an office he would hold until his election to Congress. In 1979 he was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

    After incumbent U.S. Representative Tim Lee Carter announced his retirement in 1980, Rogers launched a campaign for Kentucky's 5th congressional district. He won the primary with a plurality of the vote and went on to easily win the general election. As his district is considered a Republican stronghold, Rogers has won reelection with over 65% of the vote in every election since 1980 except for the sole exception of 1992.

    Throughout his congressional tenure, Rogers has sometimes been regarded as a bipartisan negotiator, although his views are staunchly conservative. He is anti-abortion, scoring a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee, opposes LGBT rights, and supports a balanced budget amendment for the United States. Currently in his 22nd term in Congress, Rogers is the longest-serving Republican from Kentucky ever elected to federal office.

    Early life and education

    Rogers was born in Barrier, Kentucky. After attending Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kentucky.[1] Rogers served in the Kentucky Army National Guard and North Carolina Army National Guard.[2]

    Early career

    As a lawyer Rogers was in private practice and was elected to serve as commonwealth's attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties in Kentucky, an office he held from 1969 to his election to Congress in 1980.[3][4][5]

    Rogers was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Kentucky in 1979. He was on the ballot with former Governor Louie B. Nunn. He lost to Democratic nominee John Y. Brown Jr. 59%–41%.[6] The following year, Rogers won election to Congress.[7]

    U.S. House of Representatives

    Elections

    In 1980, incumbent Republican U.S. Congressman Tim Lee Carter of Kentucky's 5th congressional district decided to retire. Rogers won the Republican primary with a plurality of 23 percent. The losing candidates included the 1971 gubernatorial nominee, Tom Emberton.[8] He won the general election with 67% of the vote.[7] He has won reelection with at least 65% of the vote since then, except in 1992, when he defeated Democratic state Senator John Doug Hays 55%-45%.[9]

    Tenure

    Rogers during the 97th Congress
    Rogers meeting with President Ronald Reagan

    Rogers is the longest-serving Kentucky Republican ever elected to federal office.[10] He represents one of the few ancestrally Republican districts south of the Ohio River. South-central Kentucky, historically the heart of the district, is very similar demographically to East Tennessee. Its voters identified with the Republicans after the Civil War and have supported the GOP ever since. Rogers served as a delegate to nine Republican National Conventions from 1976 to 2008.[11]

    The Center for Rural Development––a 501c(3) nonprofit organization established in Somerset, Kentucky, in March 1996[12][13][14][15]––was Rogers's idea.[13][16]

    In 2001 the City of Williamsburg, Kentucky named their new water park and miniature golf facility the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center[17] as a "thank-you for the federal money he has brought back to Whitley County, the City of Williamsburg, and the other 40 counties he represents".[18]

    On the House/Senate conference decision to bolster the Department of Commerce and support the Clinton Administration priorities, President Clinton remarked, "I commend the congressional leadership, Senator Ernest Hollings, Senator Pete Domenici, Congressman Neal Smith, and Congressman Harold Rogers, for their foresight and support in revitalizing this country through these programs. It is a dramatic step forward for the United States toward a solid economic future."[19]

    Kentucky state biographer Amy Witherbee commented: "Rogers's multiple roles on the Appropriations Committee have honed his skills as a bipartisan negotiator, and his economically challenged district often prompts him to stray from hard-line conservative stances. Although voting with his party against raising environmental standards on sports utility vehicles and against a controversial amendment that would have prohibited oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Rogers has been the creator and leading proponent of large environmental protection and clean-up programs throughout the Appalachian region. ... [His] reluctance to involve the federal government in local issues has not deterred him from supporting a multitude of economic development programs aimed at creating new job bases in economically disadvantaged areas, and particularly in Appalachia. In 1993, Rogers was one of only three Republicans to vote for then-President Bill Clinton's economic stimulus package. In March 2003, Rogers's ability to work through the bipartisan tangles of the Appropriations Committee won him the chairmanship on the subcommittee designated to control funding for the new Department of Homeland Security."[20]

    Ready evidence is found on March 20, 2008, when the invitation to testify in support of environmental legislation by Democratic House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins,[21] and, on the same day, a rare invitation to speak from the Senate floor was afforded by Republican Senate Majority Leader Senator David L. Williams of Cumberland County as part of the Senate's unanimously passed bipartisan resolution honoring Rogers for his service.[22]

    Rogers called a bill to reduce funding for law enforcement "the result of this new Republican majority's commitment to bring about real change in the way Washington spends the people's money".[23]

    In 2011 Rogers voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which included a controversial provision that allowed the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.[24]

    In December 2017 Rogers voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[25]

    Rogers, along with all other congressional Republicans, voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[26]

    Criticism

    Rogers has been widely criticized by both liberal and conservative pundits for his priorities when it comes to national security. National Review called him "a national disgrace"[27] and Rolling Stone named him one of America's "Ten Worst Congressmen", calling him "Bin Laden's Best Friend" for steering federal homeland security money away from large cities to his home district, which critics claim is one of the least likely terrorist targets in America because of its lack of any notable monuments or population centers.[28] In 2007 Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Rogers to its list of the Most Corrupt Members of Congress.[29]

    On May 14, 2006, the New York Times reported that Rogers had used his legislative position, as chair of the House subcommittee that controls the Homeland Security budget, to create "jobs in his home district and profits for companies that are donors to his political causes".[30] The Lexington Herald-Leader in 2005 called Rogers the "Prince of Pork".[31] The Times article reported that Rogers had inserted language ("existing government card issuance centers") into appropriations bills that effectively pushed the federal government into testing – at a cost of $4 million – older, inappropriate technology for a new fraud-resistant green card for permanent legal immigrants, at a production plant in Corbin, Kentucky, within Rogers's district. The study concluded that the smart card approach was far superior. The New York Times found that Rogers had received about $100,000 in contributions from parties with at least some ties to the identification card effort.[32]

    In response to these critics, Rogers said, "It should surprise no one that this article from Rolling Stone regarding my activity in connection with the Transportation Worker Identity Card (TWIC) is grossly incorrect, and highly slanderous ... A true and honest analysis would reveal that my sole interest in TWIC is simply to protect America's seaports, airports, and other transportation facilities from terrorist penetration. To purport that my actions have compromised national security in an effort to bring jobs to Kentucky or for personal gain is an absolute lie."[33]

    After Iran objected to the interim deployment of an Afloat Forward Staging Base to counter their threats to close the Persian Gulf, Rogers cut the funding for the project.[34][35]

    Rogers faced some criticism after he reportedly poked his colleague and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty in the back and told her to "kiss my ass" after she asked him to put on a mask, as required on the United States Capitol subway system where the incident occurred.[36] Rogers soon issued an apology to Beatty.[37]

    MilCon/VA Bill

    On June 12, 2013, the White House threatened to veto the MilCon/VA spending bill because Republicans did not agree with the Senate's number of $1.058 trillion intended for military operations and research, after the MilCon/VA bill received 421 bipartisan votes in House. "We're marking up to $967 billion, the top line under current law," said Rogers, as chair of United States House Committee on Appropriations.[38]

    Legislation

    On January 15, 2013, Rogers introduced H.R. 298, officially titled "To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield located in Pulaski and Wayne Counties, Kentucky, and the feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System, and for other purposes".[39] The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield in Kentucky (relating to the Battle of Mill Springs fought on January 19, 1862, in Pulaski and Wayne Counties during the Civil War) and the feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System (NPS).[39][40] Rogers said, "the Battle of Mill Springs is a source of great pride and interest to the people I serve."[41] Rogers argued that the Battlefield was a "jewel" and would be "an excellent addition to the National Park Service".[41]

    On March 5, 2014, Rogers introduced the To provide for the costs of loan guarantees for Ukraine (H.R. 4152; 113th Congress) into the House. The bill would provide loan guarantees to Ukraine of up to $1 billion, part of the American response to the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine.[42] The bill passed in the House on March 6, 2014.[43]

    In 2014 Rogers's committee called for cuts in the National Nuclear Security Administration budget that cast doubt on the Navy's ability to provide an Ohio Replacement Submarine class.[44]

    On July 29, 2014, Rogers introduced the Making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014 (H.R. 5230; 113th Congress), a bill that would provide supplemental FY2014 appropriations to several federal agencies for expenses related to the rise in unaccompanied alien children and alien adults accompanied by an alien minor at the southwest border.[45] The bill would also change the procedures for screening and processing unaccompanied alien children who arrive at the border from certain countries.[45] The bill would provide $659 million in supplemental funding.[46] Rogers urged members to pass the bill, arguing that "more and more immigrants will continue to flood across the border if you fail to act" because resources were running out.[46]

    Committee assignments

    For the 118th Congress:[47]

    Caucus memberships

    Political positions

    Rogers speaking at the Republican Unity Rally in Frankfort, Kentucky

    Budget and economy

    Rogers is in favor of dismantling the Home Affordable Modification Program. He opposed the GM and Chrysler bailout in 2009. He opposes regulating the subprime mortgage industry. He supports a balanced budget amendment.[49]

    Domestic issues

    Gun control

    In 2018, Rogers co-sponsored a bill to "strengthen school safety and security", which required a two-thirds vote for passage, given it was brought up under an expedited process. The House voted 407–10 to approve the bill, which would "provide $50 million a year for a new federal grant program to train students, teachers and law enforcement on how to spot and report signs of gun violence". Named STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act, it would "develop anonymous telephone and online systems where people could report threats of violence". At the same time, it would authorize $25 million for schools to improve and harden their security, such as installing new locks, lights, metal detectors and panic buttons. A separate spending bill would be required to provide money for the grant program.[50]

    Crime

    Rogers supports expanding the juvenile justice system, including renovating and hiring additional prosecutors. Rogers supports the death penalty.[51]

    Environment

    Rogers has a 13 percent rating from the Humane Society for his anti-animal welfare voting record.[52]

    Technology

    Rogers is in favor of ending federal funding for National Public Radio. He opposes net neutrality.[53]

    International issues

    Immigration

    Rogers supports efforts to make the English language the official language of the US. He supports building a fence along the Mexico-US border.[54]

    Russian interference

    In July 2018, while serving temporarily as chair of the House Rules committee, Rogers rejected requests to increase federal funding for election security. The U.S. intelligence community had concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and that it was continuing to interfere in election systems as of July 2018.[55]

    Social issues

    Abortion

    Rogers is anti-abortion. He has a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee and a zero percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America for his abortion-related voting record. He is in favor of banning federal funding from supporting organizations that provide abortions, as well as federal health insurance covering abortions, unless the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or threatens the mother's life. He opposes embryonic stem cell research. He opposes human cloning.[56]

    Cannabis

    Rogers has a "D" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes. Rogers opposes veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence.[57]

    Civil rights

    Rogers has a 28 percent rating from the NAACP for his civil rights voting record. He opposes affirmative action.[58]

    LGBT rights

    Rogers has a 92 percent rating from the Christian Coalition for his socially conservative voting record.[59] He has a zero percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign regarding his voting record on LGBT rights.[60] Rogers opposes same-sex marriage. He opposes prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. He opposes single people and same-sex couples being allowed to adopt children.[58] Rogers opposes classifying crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation as hate crimes.[51]

    Personal life

    Rogers had three children with his first wife, Shirley Rogers. She died of cancer in 1995.[61] Rogers remarried. His current wife is Cynthia Doyle.[10]

    Electoral history

    References

    1. ↑ "Hal Rogers". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
    2. ↑ "A-5th Selects Rogers As Soldier of the Year" (PDF). The Kentucky Guardsman. January 1961. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2009.
    3. ↑ "Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky". Roll Call.
    4. ↑ "16 Sep 1969, 9 - Messenger-Inquirer at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
    5. ↑ "14 Jun 1981, 7 - The Paducah Sun at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
    6. ↑ "KY Lt. Governor Race – Nov 06, 1979". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
    7. 1 2 "KY District 5 Race – Nov 04, 1980". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
    8. ↑ "KY District 5 – R Primary Race – May 27, 1980". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
    9. ↑ "KY District 5 Race – Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
    10. 1 2 Mardis, Bill (September 27, 2016). "Long-serving Hal Rogers pauses to be honored". Commonwealth Journal. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    11. ↑ "ROGERS, Harold Dallas (Hal) (1937-)". bioguideretro.Congress.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
    12. ↑ "Lexington Herald Leader". account.kentucky.com.
    13. 1 2 "About". Center for Rural Development.
    14. ↑ "Center for Rural Development expands service area; Includes Boyd, Carter and Elliott counties". The Lane Report. October 10, 2012.
    15. ↑ "Center for Rural Development Among Kentucky PPP Loan Recipients". The Courier-Journal.
    16. ↑ Diane Vinokur-Kaplan, Ram A. Cnaan (2014). Cases in Innovative Nonprofits; Organizations That Make a Difference, SAGE Publications.
    17. ↑ "Kentucky Splash Waterpark – Hal Rogers Entertainment Center". Kentuckysplash.com. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
    18. ↑ "Kentucky Splash Waterpark – Hal Rogers Entertainment Center". Kentuckysplash.com. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
    19. ↑ Clinton, William J (October 19, 1993). "Statement on Congressional Action on Department of Commerce Appropriations". The American Presidency Project.
    20. ↑ Witherbee, Amy (2007). "Hal Rogers". Our States: Kentucky.
    21. ↑ Alessi, Ryan (March 20, 2008). "GOP Congressman backs House Dems' stream bill". Pol Watchers. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008.
    22. ↑ "Kentucky Senate honors Congressman Rogers". KYPolitics.org. March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008.
    23. ↑ Faler, Brian. ""Law Enforcement, Environment Funds Cut in Budget Deal". Bloomberg, April 12, 2011.
    24. ↑ "NDAA Bill: How Did Your Congress Member Vote?". Ibtimes.com. December 16, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
    25. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    26. ↑ Carl Hulse (March 6, 2021). "After Stimulus Victory in Senate, Reality Sinks in: Bipartisanship Is Dead". New York Times.
    27. ↑ "Hal Rogers: A Congressional Disgrace". CBS News. May 17, 2006.
    28. ↑ Dickinson, Time (October 17, 2006). "The 10 Worst Congressmen". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008.
    29. ↑ Ronica Shannon (September 19, 2007). "McConnell, Rogers on 'Most Corrupt' list » Local News". The Richmond Register. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
    30. ↑ Lipton, Eric (May 14, 2006). "In Kentucky Hills, a Homeland Security Bonanza". The New York Times.
    31. ↑ Cheves, John (February 6, 2005). "Prince of Pork: Hal Rogers Hauls Home Tax Dollars By The Billions". Lexington Herald-Leader.
    32. ↑ Lipton, Eric (May 14, 2006). "In Kentucky Hills, a Homeland Security Bonanza". The New York Times.
    33. ↑ Neal, Jeff (November 1, 2006). "Rogers: Is he one of nation's 10 worst congressmen?". Commonwealth Journal.
    34. ↑ "Floating Base Gives U.S. New Footing in the Persian Gulf". The New York Times. July 12, 2012.
    35. ↑ "Funding Spat Could Sink USN Virginia-Class Sub". Defense News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
    36. ↑ Paul LeBlanc, Manu Raju and Morgan Rimmer (February 8, 2022). "Rep. Joyce Beatty says Rep. Hal Rogers poked her and said 'kiss my a**' after she asked him to put on a mask". CNN. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
    37. ↑ Quint Forgey (February 9, 2022). "Beatty: Rogers' public apology for crude comment followed maskless, 'mumbled' floor exchange". Politico. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    38. ↑ "Rogers: Make my day". The Ripon Society. June 13, 2013. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
    39. 1 2 "H.R. 298 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
    40. ↑ Marcos, Cristina (April 28, 2014). "House votes to allow more DC penthouses". The Hill. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
    41. 1 2 Smoot, Danielle (April 28, 2014). "Rogers' Mill Springs Battlefield Bill Moves Forward". Office of Hal Rogers. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
    42. ↑ Cox, Ramsey (March 25, 2014). "Reid sets up Ukraine vote for Thursday". The Hill. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
    43. ↑ "H.R. 4152 – All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
    44. ↑ LaGrone, Sam (July 9, 2014). "Navy Leaders: Dept. of Energy Budget Cuts Threaten Navy's Nuclear Fleet". news.usni.org. U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
    45. 1 2 "H.R. 5230 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
    46. 1 2 Marcos, Cristina (July 31, 2014). "House cancels border vote". The Hill. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
    47. ↑ "Harold Rogers". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
    48. ↑ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
    49. ↑ "Hal Rogers on Budget & Economy". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    50. ↑ Zanona, Melanie (March 14, 2018). "House passes school safety bill amid gun protests". The Hill. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
    51. 1 2 "Hal Rogers on Crime". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    52. ↑ "Hal Rogers on Environment". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    53. ↑ "Hal Rogers on Technology". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    54. ↑ "Hal Rogers on Immigration". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    55. ↑ "House GOP refuses to renew election security funding as Democrats fume over Russian interference". Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
    56. ↑ "Hal Rogers on Abortion". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    57. ↑ "Kentucky Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    58. 1 2 "Hal Rogers on Civil Rights". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    59. ↑ "Hal Rogers on Families & Children". On The Issues. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    60. ↑ Journal, JANIE SLAVEN Commonwealth (June 27, 2015). "Local officials weigh in on historic same-sex marriage ruling". Commonwealth Journal. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
    61. ↑ "Shirley Rogers, 55, the wife of Republican Rep. Harold ..." tribunedigital-baltimoresun. May 9, 1995. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
    62. ↑ "Office of the House Clerk – Electoral Statistics". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
    63. ↑ "Election Results". Federal Election Commission.
    64. ↑ "Official 2012 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
    65. ↑ "Official 2014 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
    66. ↑ "Official 2016 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
    67. ↑ "Election results Kentucky 2022". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
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