The Public Record
Jeff Fortenberry is a Republican politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 1st congressional district from 2005 until 2022. During his tenure, he focused on issues such as agriculture, national security, and fiscal responsibility. Fortenberry was known for his advocacy for rural communities and his efforts to support Nebraska's agricultural economy. He also served on various committees, contributing to discussions on foreign affairs and appropriations. In 2022, he lost his bid for re-election amid challenges in the political landscape.
I am a proud member of the Agriculture Committee. My grandfather was a county agent. My mother was an extension service agent. One out of three Nebraskans make their living in the field of agriculture. Of all the rancor and divisiveness in…
on the Fourth of July, during a celebration to mark the opening of a new volunteer fire station in Rising City, Nebraska, I was introduced to two extraordinary volunteer firefighters, Mr. Rich Topil and Mr. Don Fish. Rising City, like so…
Corporal Matthew Alexander of Gretna, Nebraska, died in Baqubah, Iraq, on May 6, when a improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle. He was 21 years old. Matthew and his wife, Kara, wed on Valentine's Day of this year…
I rise in favor of the Pitts amendment. This amendment will save lives. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, commonly known as PEPFAR, is the largest bilateral foreign assistance program dedicated to mitigating the HIV/ AIDS…
when I left home this week for Washington, my 6-year-old Kathryn became very sad. See, she has big, beautiful brown eyes and they welled up with tears at the prospect of my leaving again for Washington. And she said to me, Daddy, why do…
the conflict in Iraq weighs heavily on us all, especially when we receive casualty announcements and face the stark reality of precious lives lost far from the comfort of home and family. Today, I would like to pay tribute to First…
I was very pleased to receive an appointment to the commission during the last Congress, because I recognized its potential to help legislators around the world who are struggling to give representative democracy a chance. By supporting…
Several weeks ago, I was reading some of our national publications, and I came across a very small article that reported how Swiss scientists were taking amniotic fluid from preborn children, children who had been diagnosed in the womb…
In other words, the founding document in a certain sense separated the institution of church and state, yet at the same time affirmed the transcended values, the transcended ideals that make democratic politics possible. Frankly we are at…
It's hard to be sad when I'm so proud. You are my hero.'' These were the words Alvin Debro, Jr., used to bid his brother, Sergeant Germaine Debro, a final goodbye. Sergeant Debro was killed near Balad, Iraq, on September 4 when his Humvee…
I would like to tell a story, though, that might augment some of these reflections. As a much younger man, I spent a considerable amount of time in the Middle East and I was in a country that was predominantly Moslem and was being hosted…
today we remember those who died tragically on September 11, 2001, and the family members who continue to mourn such terrible loss. We honor the strength of these Americans, and we also thank the brave men and women defending America today…
on Thursday, July 20, 2006, I was unavoidably detained and thus I missed rollcall votes Nos. 389, 390, and 391. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three votes. ____________________
on June 6 we commemorated D Day, the day that American military forces stormed the coast of France 62 years ago to turn the tide in one of the most brutal conflicts the world has ever known. The United States sustained 6,603 casualties…
on rollcall no. 138 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' ____________________
in 1872 an outstanding Nebraskan, J. Sterling Morton, began the tradition of Arbor Day to encourage tree planting. One hundred years later, another outstanding Nebraskan, John Rosenow, founded the National Arbor Day Foundation to promote…
First Lieutenant Garrison Avery died Wednesday, February 1, from injuries he sustained while serving in Iraq. The personnel carrier in which he was traveling hit a roadside bomb, killing him and two fellow soldiers. He was 23 years old. He…
I thank Dr. Price and my other colleagues who have cosponsored this Day of Hearts resolution, recognizing congenital heart defects and the impact they are having on American society and American families. As has been mentioned…
this is a bright day for many individuals suffering from previously untreatable diseases, and I commend our colleagues in the Senate for passing the Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Act of 2005. It was the right thing to do. It will save…
on Friday, November 18, 2005, I was unavoidably detained due to a death in my family and thus missed rollcall votes Nos. 602, 603, 604, and 605. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye' on all four votes. ____________________
Army Captain Joel Cahill was buried in Arlington Cemetery today. Captain Cahill was killed in Iraq by an improvised explosive device. He grew up near Omaha. He leaves behind Mary his wife and their two little girls. Army Specialist Darren…
Army Specialist Darren Howe died on November 3 from injuries he sustained in Iraq. The Bradley armored personnel carrier he was driving struck a roadside bomb outside of Baghdad. The explosion caused the personnel carrier to catch fire…
I was recently asked by a kind and gentle lady my position on stem cell research. This is always a difficult question. But I told her, I am in favor of stem cell research, research that uses stem cells from cord blood and adult stem cell…
their ramifications are certainly widespread. Butler County, as I just mentioned, is a serene place, a farming community, a wonderful place to raise a family. And yet this shocking statistic of 90 percent is very real and disturbing. The…
let me add my voice to the millions of Americans and people throughout the world who now mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II. He was an extraordinary man of great courage and conviction of faith. His life was consumed in sacrifice, out of…
Politicians like Jeff Fortenberry
