Elected to Congress in 1980, Harold “Hal” Rogers is currently serving his 14th term representing Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District.  In his 28th year on Capitol Hill, Rogers is the longest serving Kentucky Republican ever elected to federal office.  Rogers has a reputation of using the appropriations process to affect measurable outcomes from government.  Nationally, his focus is on homeland security, applying strong Congressional oversight in capital-intensive programs to secure the borders, aviation and maritime security and grant distribution to the nation’s emergency responders.  In Kentucky, designated funding he has worked to secure since the early 80’s has made a measurable difference in people’s lives - reducing the scourge of addictive drugs, attracting jobs and tourists, and improving the environment.

A member of the House Appropriations Committee since his second term, Rogers assumed the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary in 1995, when Republicans became the majority party in Congress.  This placed him in the “College of Cardinals,” the elite group of 12 House members who chair a House Appropriations Subcommittee and have jurisdiction over the $900 billion in federal appropriations that fund the nation’s government programs.
 
In January of 2003, Rogers' colleagues selected him to serve as the first chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which is responsible for funding and oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Under Rogers’ leadership, the Subcommittee has overseen the successful integration of 22 legacy agencies into one unified structure at DHS.  The Department is the third-largest cabinet agency behind the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and is home to more than 180,000 employees.  Security-related entities such as the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secret Service, and Coast Guard fall under the DHS umbrella.

Rogers has a reputation for tough oversight and has repeatedly held the Department’s feet to the fire.  One of the strongest critics of wasteful spending by the Transportation Security Administration, Rogers continues pushing the agency to deliver the highest level of security in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner possible.  When concerns arose over funding for America’s first responders, Rogers worked with the Department to streamline all grants into a “one-stop-shop” to simplify the process for states and localities.  Rogers also wrote into law a provision requiring States to move at least 80-percent of their first responder formula grants to local governments within sixty days of receipt.  Rogers continues to serve on this important committee as the top Republican.

During his 27 years in Congress, Rogers has worked to address a wide range of national issues.  From 2001 to 2002, he served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and worked to ensure the security of America’s highways, railways, ports, and airways.  As chairman, Rogers brought members of the Federal Aviation Administration and senior representatives of the aviation industry before his Subcommittee to develop a list of action items to solve the multi-million dollar problem of flight delays.  A working group of industry and government officials was later formed which lead to a dramatic decrease in system-wide delays.
 
As chairman of the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee from 1995 through 2000, Rogers helped write some of the toughest anti-crime appropriations bills ever produced by the Congress.   During that time, Rogers lead efforts to reform the Immigration and Naturalization Service and introduced legislation to split the agency into two units – one to enforce immigration laws and one to distribute benefits and manage services.  This concept ultimately became law in the Homeland Security Act of 2002.  Rogers rejoined the newly configured Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee in 2007.

Rogers’ congressional district consists of 29 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky.  It is one of the poorest in the country, and Rogers works tirelessly to bring jobs, better education, and greater opportunities to the families living in his district.

Born in rural Kentucky, Rogers earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Kentucky.  An attorney by profession, he stepped into the public arena during the 1960s by promoting industrial development in his hometown of Somerset.  In 1969, he was elected as Commonwealth Attorney for two Kentucky counties and served in that position for 11 years.  In 1979, Rogers was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.  Although not elected, the race was instrumental in providing the name recognition that helped him to victory during his first House campaign in 1980.  Rogers has won re-election handily, even after a major 1991 redistricting that cost him half of his original district.

Rogers was married to Shirley McDowell Rogers for 37 years until her death in 1995.  Together, they raised three grown children, Anthony, Allison and John.  Rogers remarried to Cynthia Doyle Rogers in May of 1999.  They make their home in Somerset, Kentucky.

Born:  December 31, 1937, Wayne County, Kentucky

Education: Attended Ramsey and Monticello public schools 
  Graduated, Wayne County High School, 1955
  B.A., University of Kentucky, 1962 
  LL.B., University of Kentucky Law School, 1964

  Honorary degrees:
    Morehead State University
    Cumberland College 
    Lincoln Memorial University
    Lindsey Wilson College
    Pikeville College
    Union College

Military:  Kentucky & North Carolina National Guard, 1957-1964

Party:  Republican

Elected: 1980

Committee Assignments:   
  House Appropriations Committee 
    Homeland Security Subcommittee, Ranking Member 
    Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee
  House Republican Steering Committee