Jeff Fortenberry
U.S. Representative for Nebraska
Jeffrey Lane Fortenberry was born in December 1960 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Louisiana State University and holds a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He worked as an economist, in local economic development, and as a publishing executive. Fortenberry was also a policy analyst for the Senate Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations. He was an at-large member of the Lincoln City, Nebraska, Council for five years. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004, and has won re-election since.
He is married to Celeste Fortenberry. He is a Catholic.
In the News…
“COVID-19 has been a reminder of our mortality and fragility. Any of us could get infected. For some of us, it will be terminal,” wrote Jeff Fortenberry in an opinion piece co-authored with Brian Wallach.
“It’s an urgent health crisis, and scientists and government regulators worldwide are responding to that urgency by accelerating the testing and approval processes for potential treatments and vaccines.“
“We applaud this determined speed, and we hope for speedy success. As we fight our way through the pandemic, imagine for a moment that we could harness the same determination and goodwill to rethink how we fight other diseases.”
Fortenberry’s co-author, Brian Wallach, was struck with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) several years ago. Diseases like ALS is what they had in mind when considering the government’s approach to the pandemic.
“ALS takes about two to five ears to destroy a body and exhaust a family. It is 100 percent fatal. Its victims lose the ability to write, walk, talk, eat, move and breathe,” he wrote.
“Drug trials can drag on for a decade or longer. Most ALS victims do not live that long. This overly deliberate regulatory process does not match the urgency of the disease. It’s not saving lives, and it’s killing hope.
“When a process isn’t working, it’s time to change the process,” they concluded.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Representative Fortenberry today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Jeff Fortenberry
Representative for Nebraska
1514 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
