Freemont Tribune - Fortenberry Visits Bergan's Government Class

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Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- those are the founding principles of the United States.

On Friday, U.S. government students at Archbishop Bergan Catholic High School had a special guest to help affirm that lesson.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry spent time outlining those funding principles and answering a variety of questions prepared by the students.

"I am sent to Washington to make law on behalf of American so that we can create orderly, just structure for your good and the good of the country so human life can flourish. That's the idea," he said.

Fortenberry, a Republican who is now in his sixth term representing Nebraska's 1st District, does about a dozen of similar presentations each year.

"The deeper idea here is it's up to every generation to pick this understanding up, to further it, to shepherd it, to steward it, to own it, possess it, live it and then pass it on," he said. "That's why this class is so important. … It's all for a reason so that those us who are in the generation in front of you are handing off good things so that you can govern your life well to do good things for others."

America still is leader to which the world looks.

"People all over the world are yearning for this. People who are in repressed societies," he said.

"I have people all over the world, particularly in leadership positions -- very high level people -- tell me America is the reference point. If you go away, it's not pretty."

It's a lesson he hopes sticks with students throughout their lives.

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