Jeff Fortenberry

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.

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.

Elections

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%). In the general election, he defeated State Senator Matt Connealy 54%–43%. He won all but two counties: Thurston and Burt.

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

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

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

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

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

2016

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

Tenure

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." 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.

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. 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.

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

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). 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. 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 a member of several other caucuses.