Jeff Fortenberry

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Jeff Fortenberry
Jeff Fortenberry

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Doug Bereuter

Born December 27, 1960 (1960-12-27) (age 47)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Political party Republican
Spouse Celeste Gregory Fortenberry
Religion Roman Catholic

Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a Republican U.S. Representative from the First Congressional District of Nebraska. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004, succeeding Doug Bereuter, the longest serving congressman in Nebraska history, who resigned earlier that year to become president of the Asia Foundation. He was re-elected to a second term in 2006. He is married to the former Celeste Gregory, and they have five children. He is a devout Roman Catholic and is strongly pro-life.

Prior to being elected to the United States Congress, Fortenberry was a member of the Lincoln City Council from 1997 to 2001 as well as working as an economist, a congressional intern and salesman for Truck Paper. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University. He also received a masters degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. He graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge. Fortenberry ran in 2004 for the seat being vacated by Bereuter. He won the Republican primary in a field of seven candidates with 39% of the vote. [1] He defeated State Senator Matt Connealy in the general election by 11 percentage points. [2]

Fortenberry supported President George W. Bush’s tax cuts and has said he wants to reduce the deficit. He has also expressed interest in creating a "business investment account" that would give tax breaks for the formation or expansion of small businesses.

In the 2006 congressional election, Fortenberry was challenged by former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Maxine Moul. Fortenberry defeated Moul by 18 percentage points. [3]

Contents

[edit] Committee Assignments

  • Agriculture Committee
    • Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
    • Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture
  • Foreign Affairs Committee
    • Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
    • Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
  • Small Business Committee
    • Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship (Ranking Member)

[edit] Agriculture Committee

From 2003 through 2005, $14.7 billion in crop subsidies went to the congressional districts of members on the House Committee on Agriculture, an analysis by the non-partisan Environmental Working Group found. That was 42.4% of the total subsidies. Fortenberry is reported to have brought $660 million to his District. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dilanian, Ken, " Billions go to House panel members' districts", USA Today. July 26, 2007.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Doug Bereuter (R)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 1st congressional district

2005–present
Succeeded by
incumbent
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