Harold Rogers
RepublicanU.S. Representative, KY-5| Age | 88 (b. 1937-12-31) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 1981-01-05 (~45 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian (Baptist); member of First Baptist Church of Somerset, Kentucky |
| Education | Attended Western Kentucky University (1956-1957); B.A., University of Kentucky (1962); LL.B., University of Kentucky College of Law (1964) |
| Prior occupation | Attorney; Commonwealth's Attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties, Kentucky (1969-1980) |
| Military service | Yes: Kentucky and North Carolina Army National Guard (Staff Sergeant) |
| Birthplace | Barrier, Kentucky |
| Marital status | Married — Cynthia Doyle Rogers (married May 1999); previously Shirley McDowell Rogers (married 1958, died 1995) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Somerset, Kentucky |
| Notable relatives | Daughter Allison Rogers worked as grants administrator for the Cheetah Conservation Fund, an organization to which Rogers directed federal earmarks; no relatives in elected politics |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 1980 |
| Previous offices | Commonwealth's Attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties, Kentucky (1969-1980) · Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1979, lost) |
| Committees | House Committee on Appropriations · Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chair, 118th Congress) · Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense · Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs |
| Caucuses | Congressional Coal Caucus · Congressional Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus (co-chair) · U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus · Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus · Tennessee Valley Authority Caucus |
| Leadership | Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives (since March 18, 2022) · Chairman, House Appropriations Committee (2011-2017) · House Republican Steering Committee |
| Ideology | DW-NOMINATE 1st dimension score approximately 0.334 (conservative); described by FiveThirtyEight as relatively bipartisan on spending |
| Signature legislation | H.R. 4152 - loan guarantees for Ukraine (2014) · H.R. 5230 - supplemental appropriations for the southern border crisis (2014) · Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act / federal prescription drug abuse and opioid response efforts (co-led) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $582,330–$710,326 (2018) · estimate
No holdings recorded yet (from official Financial Disclosure filings).
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — $5,000 Security Screening Fine (Magnetometer) — Appealed and Dismissed
On April 14, 2021, Rogers set off a magnetometer entering the House floor and declined a hand-wanding by Capitol Police, saying 'Maybe later, I have to vote.' The Sergeant at Arms notified the House Committee on Ethics on April 16, 2021, that Rogers had been fined $5,000 pursuant to House Resolution 73, which mandated security screening for all members. Rogers appealed on April 19, 2021. On May 20, 2021, the House Ethics Committee agreed by majority vote to sustain his appeal, and the fine was dropped. No penalty was ultimately assessed.
resolved — 2021 House security-screening (magnetometer) fine under H.Res. 73
On April 14, 2021, Rogers set off a magnetometer while entering the House floor and, when asked to be screened with a hand wand, said 'Maybe later. I have to vote,' proceeding onto the floor without completing screening. Pursuant to House Resolution 73 (which mandated security screening to enter the chamber), the Office of the Sergeant at Arms notified the Committee on Ethics on April 16, 2021 that Rogers had been fined $5,000. Rogers appealed the fine on April 19, 2021. Under Section 1(b)(2) of H.Res. 73, the Committee on Ethics had 30 days to consider the appeal, with the fine upheld unless a majority agreed to the appeal. A majority of the Committee agreed to (granted) Rogers's appeal, overturning the fine. This is the only formal action by an official body identified for Rogers.