Rogers was among Republicans who voted against the 2010 James Zadroga Act to fund healthcare 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 more than 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. “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.’” 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.