Press Release
By Congressman Aaron Bean
4/25/25
Since the early days of our founding, art has been an essential part of America’s character. Even George Washington noted that it is the duty of every good citizen to encourage the arts. This week, I was thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition during an awards ceremony held at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) – Kent Campus.  This year, 26 young artists from across the Fourth District submitted 30 creative and impressive pieces embodying the theme “Honoring Our Armed Forces.” The quality of the artwork was truly impressive, and it was a joy to see so many young people expressing themselves through various mediums. Congratulations to the students who placed in this year’s competition! Grand Prize Winner: Emma Kruthoff, The Medals, Fernandina Beach High School CLAY COUNTY Winner: Hayden Gorneault, In The Shade of Heroes, Middleburg High School Runner-Up: Kalena Parris, A Nation’s Lament , Ridgeview High School DUVAL COUNTY Winner: Katherine Zickuhr, The Legacy of Our Armed Forces, Stanton College Preparatory School Runner-Up: Lauryn Taylor, Honoring our Armed Forces, William Raines High School NASSAU COUNTY Winner: Em Alexander, Blue Depths, Red Horizons, Fernandina Beach High School Runner-Up: Emily Moore, Fierce Relations, Fernandina Beach High School  Pictured above is The Medals by Emma Kruthoff. I am excited to have Emma’s artwork on display in the United States Capitol for the next year, and I am honored to showcase the talent of all those who made submissions.STRENGTHENING JACKSONVILLE’S MARITIME INDUSTRY Ocean vessels need less red tape and regulatory barriers, not more. That’s why I introduced the Maritime Fuel Tax Parity Act (MFTPA) to remove barriers to alternative marine fuel usage. Expanding the use of alternative fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) will strengthen Jacksonville’s maritime industry and allow seagoing vessels to use LNG as a fuel source without being penalized by an onerous tax and compliance burden. Read more HERE . MEETING TOMORROW’S LEADERS  It’s always a great day when I get to spend time with young people who are ready to serve our nation! Meeting with cadets at Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership this week was no exception! I shared with them my journey to the House of Representatives, as well as insight into how our government works. They have a bright future ahead of them, and I encouraged them to dream big, work hard, and never lose sight of their potential to make a positive impact. INCREASING HEALTH CARE CHOICES FOR AMERICANS A recent study found that more than 47% of workers with a Flexible Spending Account forfeited a portion of their contributions. On average, employees lost roughly $422 in unused FSA contributions each year, amounting to a collective $4 BILLION lost in unspent money a year.We need to give Americans the flexibility to plan, save, and take charge of health care decisions for their families. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Flexible Savings Arrangements for Healthy Robust America (FSA-HRA) Act. This commonsense bill will make it easier for families to take control of both their physical and financial health. FUTURE FOCUSED AT JU PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE  It was great to be back at Jacksonville University speaking with students, faculty, and administrators from the JU Public Policy Institute. During Tuesday’s event, I provided a legislative update and shared how I’m working to prevent the largest tax hike in our nation’s history! Big thanks to Rick Mullaney, Executive Director of the JU Public Policy Institute, for inviting me. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from folks in Northeast Florida about the issues they care about most. BEAN ON FOX BUSINESS: DOGE IS HERE TO STAY  CLICK HERE TO WATCHOn Thursday, I joined Varney & Co. to discuss whether DOGE can effectively run when Elon Musk steps back. UPCOMING: APRIL TOWN HALL  Are you ready for our next Telephone Town Hall? In the first 100 days of the 119th Congress, we’ve moved faster to fix America than anyone expected, and we’ve certainly got a lot to discuss. Join me on Tuesday, April 29th at 5:00pm as I break down our biggest wins, take your biggest questions, and highlight our game-changing next moves. If you’ve never signed up to join our TTH call-list, be sure to register at: https://bean.house.gov/contact/tth-signup. CASEWORK CORNER A constituent was involved in an auto accident and was left in a challenging situation where her medical bills were collecting interest while she was awaiting a settlement with her auto insurance provider. After contacting our office, my team was able to contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Treasury Department, who, in turn, halted all collection activity. Are you a constituent in need of casework assistance? My staff and I are here to help you. Call us today at 904-830-3933. ARE YOU REAL ID READY? Friendly reminder on May 7, 2025, travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Real IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. If you plan to fly, make sure you get a Real ID, so you won’t face travel delays. Visit http://travel.state.gov for passport information and http://dhs.gov/real-id for REAL ID information. Sincerely,  Congressman Aaron Bean Proudly Serving Florida’s Fourth Congressional District |
Contact Me Washington 2459 Rayburn Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-0123 Nassau 501 Centre Street, Suite 107 Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone: (904) 557-9550 Clay 4465-6 US Highway 17 Fleming Island, FL 32003 Phone: (904) 830-3933 Duval 117 W Duval St. #230 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 319-9433 |
