Rep. Fortenberry receives award during National Library Legislative Day

Washington, D.C.—Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) today received the United for Libraries’ 2013 Public Service Award during the National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. The Public Service Award is given annually by United for Libraries to a legislator who has been especially supportive of libraries.

Rod Wagner, director of the Nebraska Library Commission, presented the award to Fortenberry. Rep Fortenberry was also honored for his openness to constituents, often meeting with his local librarians when they attend National Library Legislative Day each year.

As part of National Library Legislative Day, hundreds of library supporters from across the country converged in Washington to meet with members of Congress to discuss key library issues. The event focused on supporting federal funding for national libraries.

During the 111^th Congress (2009-2010), Fortenberry introduced H.R.1692 “to amend the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act to exempt ordinary books from the lead limit in such Act.” Later, he introduced H.R.4767 to amend CPSIA “to exempt ordinary books and paper-based printed material from the lead limit in such Act.” He reintroduced that legislation as H.R.272 in the 112^th Congress (2011-2012).

Rep. Fortenberry was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and he previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he placed particular focus on human rights concerns, Middle Eastern affairs and nuclear weapons non-proliferation. Prior to serving in Congress, Representative Fortenberry worked as a publishing industry executive in Lincoln where he also served on the Lincoln City Council.

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