Evelyn Coleman Promoted to Press Secretary in Rep. Ronny Jackson's Office

Evelyn Coleman has joined the office of Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) as press secretary, effective May 1. Coleman comes to the Texas Republican's office after nearly a year as a press assistant and staff assistant in the office of Rep. Dale W. Strong (R-AL-5), where she served from June 2025 through April 2026.

Before her time with Strong, Coleman interned for Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL) for one month in the summer of 2024. She is a 2025 graduate of Wofford College, where she earned a BA in humanities, art history, English and religion, cum laude.

The Member

Jackson sits on four major committees: the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He also chairs the Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations.

His legislative portfolio reflects those assignments. His most notable bill to date, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act, passed both chambers and was signed into law as Public Law 119-34 in August 2025. The law requires the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security to annually report to Congress on export control licensing activity.

A second bill, the U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, cleared the Foreign Affairs Committee in July 2025 by a vote of 34-13 and is awaiting further action. The bill would direct the President to review U.S.-South Africa relations and assess whether South Africa has engaged in activities harmful to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, with particular attention to South Africa's relationships with China.

Other introduced bills include the U.S.-Israel FUTURES Act of 2026, which would authorize $150 million annually from 2027 through 2029 for a joint U.S.-Israel defense technology initiative, and the FLRAA Production Acceleration Act of 2025, which would authorize the Army to purchase up to 24 future long-range assault aircraft before full production begins, a provision with direct implications for Texas and Kansas manufacturing.

Jackson has also introduced the SAFE CATTLE Act, directing USDA and the Interior Department to coordinate on preventing New World screwworm infestations on federal lands, and the Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act, which has advanced to subcommittee hearings and would direct the VA to establish a task force focused on blast-related injuries among veterans and active-duty service members.

The Messaging

Jackson's public messaging has centered heavily on defense modernization and U.S.-Israel relations. He has promoted the GUARD Act as a vehicle for AI-driven military advantage and has framed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" as a generational investment in military technology. He has also been vocal about protecting Sheppard Air Force Base in his district and participated in the 2026 Sea-Air-Space Expo, where he engaged on naval readiness and the China maritime threat.

As co-chair of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, Jackson has been among the more active House members on U.S.-Israel defense cooperation, citing joint operations against Iran's missile and nuclear programs as evidence of the alliance's strategic value.

Coleman will be stepping into the communications role as several of Jackson's committees continue active hearing schedules. The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a markup in March 2026 covering multiple export control bills and a separate hearing on reforming U.S. defense sales. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held its annual worldwide threats assessment in March 2026, in both open and closed sessions. The Armed Services Committee held a strategic forces posture hearing the same month.

CORRECTION: In an earlier version, LEGIS1 reported that "Coleman's previous employer, Dale Strong, faced a turbulent stretch during her time in his office. An Alabama Political Reporter opinion piece published in December 2025 accused him of attending campaign fundraisers while elderly constituents in Madison County faced evictions." The article should not have made this reference as it was an Opinion piece published in 2025 but referred to a time period during COVID pandemic. https://www.alreporter.com/2025/12/09/opinion-rep-dale-strong-busy-attending-campaign-breakfasts-while-elderly-people-were-being-evicted-in-madison-county/ This did not occur during Ms. Coleman's tenure.

Coleman brings roughly 11 months of Hill experience into her new role.

Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.