Jeff Fortenberry

Jeffrey Lane Fortenberry (born December 27, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district since 2005. A member of the Republican Party, his district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area. He currently is the dean of Nebraska's congressional delegation.[1]

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

Early life, education and early career

He graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Louisiana State University, a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University, and a master's degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.[2][3][4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Federal election history
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%).[7][8] In the general election, he defeated State Senator Matt Connealy 54%–43%. He won all but two counties: Thurston and Burt.[9][10]

2006

Fortenberry won re-election to a second term, defeating former Lieutenant Governor Maxine Moul, 58%–42%, winning all but Burt County.[11][12]

2008

He won re-election to a third term, defeating Marine veteran Max Yashirin 70–30%.[13]

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.[14] He won re-election to a fourth term, defeating legislative staffer Ivy Harper, 71%–29%.[15]

2012

He drew two opponents in the Republican primary again, but won with 86% of the vote.[16]

2014

He won re-election to a sixth term, defeating attorney and Democrat Dennis Crawford.[17]

2016

He won re-election to a seventh term, defeating doctor and Democrat Dan Wik.[18]

2018

Campaigning for an eighth term in October 2018, it was reported that Fortenberry's chief of staff Dr. William “Reyn” Archer III threatened an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ari Kohen, who had 'liked' a Facebook post depicting a photo of a Fortenberry campaign sign vandalised by the addition of googly eyes and the modification of the candidate's name to "Fartenberry." Archer raised Kohen's liking of the photo with Kohen's supervisor as well as the dean and chancellor of the university. In reaction, Kohen raised a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, and noted the 'chilling effect' of Archer seeking to violate his First Amendment rights.[19][20]

Fortenberry defeated Democrat Jessica McClure with 60% of the vote.[21]

2020

Fortenberry is running for re-election in 2020 and was unopposed in the Republican primary.[21]

U.S. House of Representatives 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."[22] 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.[23]

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.[24] 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.[25]

Foreign affairs

In an October 2010 endorsement, the Lincoln Journal Star described Fortenberry as "uncommonly well-informed on international issues".[26]

Abortion

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).[27] He speaks annually at the March for Life.[28][29]

Committee assignments

Fortenberry was listed by Foreign Policy magazine in 2010 as a "new Republican powerbroker" on nuclear security issues.[31] 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.[32] Fortenberry is also co-chairman of the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus.[33]

References
  1. Morton, Joseph (November 8, 2016). "Incumbents Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith easily win re-election in Nebraska House races". Omaha World Herald.
  2. "Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Member details". bioguideretro.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  3. "28 Georgetown Alumni Serving in the 116th Congress". Georgetown University. 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. "Rep. Jeff Fortenberry". Catholic Answers. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  5. "Jeff Fortenberry – Early Career – Analyst". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-11-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Member of the U.S. House of Representatives".
  8. "Our Campaigns – NE – District 01 – R Primary Race – May 11, 2004".
  9. "Our Campaigns – NE – District 01 Race – Nov 02, 2004".
  10. "Member of the U.S. House of Representatives".
  11. "Our Campaigns – NE – District 01 Race – Nov 07, 2006".
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2006-11-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Our Campaigns – NE – District 01 Race – Nov 04, 2008".
  14. "Our Campaigns – NE District 01- R Primary Race – May 11, 2010".
  15. "Our Campaigns – Candidate – Ivy Harper".
  16. "Our Campaigns – NE District 1 – R Primary Race – May 15, 2012".
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. Bureau, Joseph Morton / World-Herald. "Incumbents Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith easily win re-election in Nebraska House races". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  19. Campbell, Andy (1 November 2018). "Congressman Jeff Fortenberry's Chief Of Staff Threatens Professor For Liking Facebook Post". Huffington post. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  20. Lapin, Tamar (2 November 2018). "Congressman not amused by 'Fartenberry' vandalism". New York Post. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  21. "Jeff Fortenberry". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  22. "Editorial, 7/28: Jeff Fortenberry's ethanol plan has merit". JournalStar.com. 28 July 2010.
  23. "Ethanol Producer Magazine – The Latest News and Data About Ethanol Production".
  24. Don Walton/Lincoln Journal Star (28 October 2010). "Fortenberry faces newcomer Harper in 1st District". Fremont Tribune.
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. "Editorial, 10/15: Lincoln Journal Star endorses Jeff Fortenberry". JournalStar.com. 15 October 2010.
  27. "National Right to Life – NRLC Scorecard".
  28. "Fortenberry Speaks at March for Life". Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. January 23, 2012.
  29. "Nebraska Walk for Life draws thousands of demonstrators in Lincoln". Norfolk Daily News. January 28, 2018.
  30. "Committee Information". Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  31. https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/10/25/who_will_stand_between_obama_and_the_world?page=0,10
  32. "Caucus Membership". Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  33. "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Doug Bereuter		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st congressional district
2005–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Henry Cuellar		 United States Representatives by seniority
90th		 Succeeded by
Virginia Foxx
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