Jeffrey Lane Fortenberry (born December 27, 1960) is an American politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 2005 to 2022, representing Nebraska’s 1st congressional district as a member of the Republican Party.
Fortenberry In October 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Fortenberry on three charges of lying to investigators and concealing information about foreign campaign contributions. He was convicted of all three felony counts in March 2022.After the convictions, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called upon Fortenberry to resign. He officially resigned on March 31, 2022.In June 2022, he was sentenced to 2 years’ probation, plus community service and a fine. His conviction was overturned in December 2023.
Jeff Fortenberry Facts
- Born : December 27, 1960 (age 63), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
- Political party : Republican
- Spouse: Celeste Fortenberry
- Education : Louisiana State University (BA), Georgetown University (MPP), Franciscan University (ThM)
- Penalty: 2 years probation 320 hours community
Jeff Fortenberry Early life, education and early career
Fortenberry graduated from Catholic High in his native Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree in Fortenberry public policy from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Fortenberry previously worked as an economist, in local economic development, and as a publishing executive for Sandhills Publishing. He was also a policy analyst for Fortenberry the Senate Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations. Fortenberry was an at-large Fortenberry member of the Lincoln City Council from 1997 to 2001
Jeff Fortenberry U.S. House of Representatives
Fortenberry won the seven-candidate Republican primary to replace the retiring Doug Bereuter with 39% of the vote. He defeated Curt Bromm (33%),Fortenberry 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.
Jeff Fortenberry Political positions
Fortenberry served on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. He introduced the Renewable Fuels for America’s Future Act of 2010, designed to reduce subsidies for the production of ethanol. The act would result in taxpayer savings of $5.67 billion, Fortenberryaccording to economists Ernie Goss of Creighton University and Bruce Babcock of Iowa State University.
Fortenberry In 2020, Fortenberry signed a forest management agreement and gathered producers across Nebraska to discuss growing the agriculture family through integrating big data, precision farming, and value-adds to maximize incomes of farms of all sizes. On August 4, 2020, a bipartisan initiative supported by Fortenberry, the Great American Outdoors Act, was signed into law by President Donald Trump. In September 2020, Fortenberry sponsored H.R. 3651, which serves to facilitate the use of certain land in Nebraska for Fortenberry public outdoor recreational opportunities and for other purposes
Jeff Fortenberry 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. He introduced H.R. 321, Fortenberry the SCHIP Plus Act of 2009, to offer eligible families the choice to retain coverage for their children in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or using program funds to help pay for family insurance plans. He introduced H.R. 5479, aimed at protecting people with preexisting conditions.
Fortenberry In 2020, Fortenberry introduced Matt’s Act, Fortenberry named in honor of one of his constituents who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 13. The legislation would allow prescription drug manufacturers to sell insulin directly to patients. Fortenberry claimed it would reduce the price of insulin by two-thirds.
Fortenberry introduced ACT for ALS to help people suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) gain access to new treatments. The act would have the Fortenberry Department of Health and Human Services guide a new public-private partnership for streamlined research and drug approval for ALS. As of late December 2020, over 270 members of Congress co-signed the legislation.
Jeff Fortenberry COVID-19 pandemic
Fortenberry During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fortenberry supported the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), providing small businesses with financial support throughout the pandemic. The program is estimated to have saved over 300,000 jobs in Nebraska.[citation needed] The state led the nation in PPP loans approved per capita.
Texas v. Pennsylvania
In December 2020, Fortenberry was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at theFortenberry United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election,Fortenberry in which Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.
Fortenberry Following the Supreme Court’s decision not to take up Texas v. Pennsylvania, and the Electoral College’s certification of the election results, Fortenberry recognized Joe Biden as President-elect and congratulated him on his victory.He voted against invalidating the election results on January 6, 2021, saying, “As much as I supported President Trump to win, Fortenberry I believe the proposed remedy to election irregularities is inconsistent with my legal obligation and the guidance of my conscience. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution. My decision is consistent with that oath. I will vote to certify the election.