Jeff Fortenberry

Jeff Fortenberry
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Doug Bereuter
Personal details
Born (1960-12-27) December 27, 1960
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Celeste Fortenberry
Education Louisiana State University (BA)
Georgetown University (MPP)
Franciscan University (ThM)

Jeffrey Lane Fortenberry (born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district, a post he has filled since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area. He is the current dean of Nebraska's Congressional delegation.[1]

Early life, education, and early career

He graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University, a master's degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and a bachelor's degree in economics from Louisiana State University.

He has previously worked as an economist, in local economic development, and as a publishing executive for Sandhills Publishing. He was also a policy analyst for the Senate Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations.[2]

Lincoln City Council (1997–2001)

Fortenberry was an at-large member of the Lincoln City Council from 1997 to 2001. His main commitments in this role were community revitalization and increasing public safety, but doing both without raising taxation. Among the economic development and community revitalization projects he worked on were the transition of a major public hospital and building a new baseball stadium.[3]

U.S. House of Representatives (2005–present)

Elections

2004

Incumbent Republican U.S. Congressman Doug Bereuter of Nebraska's 1st congressional district decided to retire. Fortenberry decided to run and won the 7-candidate Republican primary with 39% of the vote. He defeated Curt Bromm (33%), the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, and Club for Growth-endorsed businessman Greg Ruehle (21%).[4][5] In the general election, he defeated State Senator Matt Connealy 54%–43%. He won all but two counties: Thurston and Burt.[6][7]

2006

Fortenberry won re-election to a second term, defeating former Lieutenant Governor Maxine Moul, 58%–42%, winning all but Burt County.[8][9]

2008

He won re-election to a third term, defeating Marine veteran Max Yashirin 70–30%.[10]

2010

He was challenged in the Republican primary for the first time since 2004. He drew two opponents and won with 84% of the vote.[11] He won re-election to a fourth term, defeating legislative staffer Ivy Harper, 71%–29%.[12]

2012

He drew two opponents in the Republican primary again, but won with 86% of the vote.[13]

2014

He won re-election to a sixth term, defeating attorney and Democrat Dennis Crawford.[14]

2016

He won re-election to a seventh term, defeating doctor and Democrat Dan Wik.[15]

Tenure

Agriculture, energy, and environment

Fortenberry introduced the Renewable Fuels for America’s Future Act of 2010. The act was described by the Lincoln Journal Star editorial board as "a smart and thoughtful way to reduce subsidies for the production of ethanol."[16] The act would result in taxpayer savings of $5.67 billion, according to economists Ernie Goss of Creighton University and Bruce Babcock of Iowa State University.[17]

Healthcare

Fortenberry voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but said in 2010 that he supported "the right type of (health care) reform" incorporating measures to reduce costs, improve outcomes and protect vulnerable people.[18] He introduced H.R. 321, the SCHIP Plus Act of 2009 to offer eligible families the choice of retaining coverage for their children in the State Children's Health Insurance Program or using SCHIP funds to help pay for a family insurance plan, saving both family and taxpayer dollars.[19]

Foreign affairs

In an October 2010 endorsement, the Lincoln Journal Star described Fortenberry as "uncommonly well-informed on international issues".[20]

Pro-life

Fortenberry received a 100% pro-life score from the National Right to Life Committee in a ranking of members of the 111th Congress (2009-2011).[21] He speaks annually at the March for Life.

Committee assignments

Fortenberry was listed by Foreign Policy magazine in 2010 as a "new Republican powerbroker" on nuclear security issues.[24] He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.

Caucus memberships for the 115th Congress

In the 115th Congress, Fortenberry is co-chairman of the Nuclear Security Working Group, Congressional Caucus on Beef, Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, and Friends of Switzerland Caucus. He is the vice chair of the Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus. He is Chairman of the Congressional Catholic Staff Association. He is a member of several other caucuses.[25] Fortenberry is also co-chairman of the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Morton, Joseph (November 8, 2016). "Incumbents Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith easily win re-election in Nebraska House races". Omaha World Herald.
  2. ↑ "Jeff Fortenberry – Early Career – Analyst". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  4. ↑ "Member of the U.S. House of Representatives".
  5. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 - R Primary Race - May 11, 2004".
  6. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Nov 02, 2004".
  7. ↑ "Member of the U.S. House of Representatives".
  8. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Nov 07, 2006".
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
  10. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NE - District 01 Race - Nov 04, 2008".
  11. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NE District 01- R Primary Race - May 11, 2010".
  12. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Ivy Harper".
  13. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NE District 1 - R Primary Race - May 15, 2012".
  14. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  15. ↑ Bureau, Joseph Morton / World-Herald. "Incumbents Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith easily win re-election in Nebraska House races". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  16. ↑ "Editorial, 7/28: Jeff Fortenberry's ethanol plan has merit". JournalStar.com. 28 July 2010.
  17. ↑ "Ethanol Producer Magazine – The Latest News and Data About Ethanol Production".
  18. ↑ Don Walton/Lincoln Journal Star (28 October 2010). "Fortenberry faces newcomer Harper in 1st District". Fremont Tribune.
  19. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  20. ↑ "Editorial, 10/15: Lincoln Journal Star endorses Jeff Fortenberry". JournalStar.com. 15 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "National Right to Life - NRLC Scorecard".
  22. ↑ "CQ.com - Committee Rosters for the 113th Congress".
  23. ↑ "Member List". Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  24. ↑ https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/10/25/who_will_stand_between_obama_and_the_world?page=0,10
  25. ↑ "Caucus Membership". Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  26. ↑ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Doug Bereuter (R)		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st congressional district
2005–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Henry Cuellar
D-Texas		 United States Representatives by seniority
116th		 Succeeded by
Virginia Foxx
R-North Carolina

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