December 2023

Wednesday, December 20

3:00 p.m.

Phone call with Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor

Tuesday, December 19

12:45 p.m.

Attended Democratic Caucus

2:15 p.m.

Senate floor session

3:00 p.m.

Press interview

Monday, December 18

4:00 p.m.

Met virtually with Tony Coscia (Chairman of the Board, Amtrak)

5:00 p.m.

Press interview

5:30 p.m.

Senate floor session

Thursday, December 14

9:00 a.m.

Met with representatives from the MT Farm Bureau Federation: Cyndi Johnson (MT State President, Conrad), Nicole Rolf (Senior Director of Government Affairs, Ismay), and Ken Johnson (Conrad)

11:30 a.m.

Press interview

12:00 p.m.

Senate floor session

12:15 p.m.

Monthly Rural Press Call

12:45 p.m.

Press interview

12:55 p.m.

Attended Democratic Caucus

3:00 p.m.

Senate floor session

5:15 p.m.

Phone call with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova

Wednesday, December 13

8:15 a.m.

Montana Constituent Coffee

9:20 a.m.

Press interview

10:00 a.m.

Met with representatives from the Crow Tribe: Chairman Frank White Clay; Elvis Old Bull Jr “EJ” (Chief Financial Officer); Channis Whiteman (Vice Secretary); Amanda Sowden (Beckers Sowden Law PLLC); Matthew Wise (Wise Capital Strategy); Vince RedHouse (Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP); Jamie George (Consultant); and Michael Willis

10:30 a.m.

Phone Call with Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog

10:45 a.m.

Met with representatives from the Bonneville Power Administration: John Hairston (Administrator & CEO) and Sonya Baskerville (Manager, DC Office of National Relations)

1:50 p.m.

Phone call with Jeff Stiffarm, President of the Fort Belknap Indian Community

2:00 p.m.

Attended the National Guard 387th Birthday and Cake Cutting

2:05 p.m.

Press interview

3:00 p.m.

Phone Call with General Thomas Bussiere (Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command)

4:45 p.m.

Phone call with John Podesta (Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation)

5:15 p.m.

Phone Call with Carole Johnson (Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration)

5:30 p.m.

Attended Wounded Warrior Project Congressional Holiday Reception

5:45 p.m.

Senate floor session

6:00 p.m.

Attended Fire Service Holiday Party

Tuesday, December 12

9:00 a.m.

Attended all Senators meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

10:15 a.m.

Met with representatives from the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association: Mark Hayden (Missoula Electric Coop); Mark Johnson (Flathead Electric Coop); and Ryan Hall (MECA)

11:45 a.m.

Senate floor session

12:30 p.m.

Delivered floor speech emphasizing the importance of passing Defense Appropriations

12:45 p.m.

Attended Democratic Caucus

2:15 p.m.

Senate floor session

2:45 p.m.

Press interview

3:30 p.m.

Press interview

Monday, December 11

5:30 p.m.

Senate floor session

Saturday, December 9

8:15 a.m.

Phone Call with John Podesta (Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation)

Thursday, December 7

9:00 a.m.

Met with representatives from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: Chris Christensen (Board Member and Director at NorVal Electric Cooperative in Glasgow, Montana), Hill Thomas (Vice President of Legislative Affairs), and Ingret Kessler (Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

9:35 a.m.

Press interview

10:00 a.m.

Attended Commerce Committee Executive Session

10:45 a.m.

Press interview

11:00 a.m.

Met virtually with the American Council of Engineering Companies of Montana: Casey Hanson, Morrison-Maierle, Billings; Philip Meis, Utility Mapping Services, Clancy; Michael Sanderson, Sanderson Stewart, Billings; Chris Anderson, DJ&A Engineering, Missoula; Stephanie Reynolds, WGM Group, Missoula; ; Luke LaLiberty, KJL, Helena; Katharine Mottley, ACEC, DC; and Jay Skoog, ACEC of MT, Helena

11:30 a.m.

Senate floor session

11:45 a.m.

Press interview

12:15 p.m.

Met with leadership from the Federal Trade Commission: Chair Lina Khan, Sarah Miller (Chief of Staff), and Daniel Zhao (Special Assistant)

12:45 p.m.

Attended DPCC meeting with Lisa Graves (Founder and Executive Director of True North Research)

1:45 p.m.

Senate floor session

Wednesday, December 6

8:15 a.m.

Montana Constituent Coffee

9:15 a.m.

Press interview

9:30 a.m.

Attended Banking Committee hearing

12:00 p.m.

Attended meeting with officials from the Ukrainian Parliament and Ukrainian Minstry of Defense

12:30 p.m.

Senate floor session

12:30 p.m.

Met with representatives from Mystery Ranch: Kent Orms (Director, Government Programs) and Jonathon Golden (Atlantic Strategies Group)

12:45 p.m.

Attended Chairs meeting

2:15 p.m.

Press interview

2:30 p.m.

Attended Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing on Fentanyl in Native Communities

3:30 p.m.

Senate floor session

5:00 p.m.

Met with David Allvin (Chief of Staff of the U.S Air Force) and Senator Susan Collins

6:00 p.m.

Attended reception hosted by Ambassador of Sweden Urban Ahlin for visiting Minister of Defence of Sweden Mr. Pal Johnson

Tuesday, December 5

9:00 a.m.

Met with WTA Advocates for Rural Broadband: Chris Laslovich, Blackfoot Communications, Missoula; Kelly Worthington, Executive Vice President, WTA, Helena; Taylor Myers, WTA, Helena; and Derrick Owens, Senior Vice President, Govt & Industry Affairs

9:15 a.m.

National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors meeting: Mike Paffhausen (State Farm, Butte) and Jayne Fitzgerald (Director of Government Relations, NAIFA)

9:30 a.m.

Phone Call with Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

10:00 a.m.

Met with representatives from the Coalition of Large Tribes: Chairman Marvin Weatherwax (Blackfeet); Frank Star Comes Out (President, Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe); Dion Killsback (Attorney, Blackfeet); Porter Byers (Government Relations, Blackfeet); Jens Camp (Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker LLP); and Jennifer Weddle (Greenberg Traurig LLP)

11:00 a.m.

Met with representatives from NorthWestern Energy: Brian Bird (CEO); Shannon Heim (General Counsel and Vice President of Federal Govt Affairs); and Crystal Lail (Chief Financial Officer)

11:30 a.m.

Senate floor session

12:30 pm

Met with representatives from the Bank of New York Mellon: Robin Vince, CEO; Ali O’Donnell, Head of U.S. Government Affairs; and Jennifer Bang, Head of Federal Govt Affairs

12:40 p.m.

Met with representatives from the Regional Airline Association: Faye Black; John Sullivan, Executive Chairman of CommuteAir; Tim Komberec, Chairman and CEO of Empire Air; Terry Basham, COO at GoJet Airlines; Matt Kostcal ; Eric Morgan, CEO and President of Piedmont Airlines; and Sam Whitehorn, Principal at Elevate GA

12:45 p.m.

Attended Democratic Caucus

2:15 p.m.

Senate floor session

2:30 p.m.

Hosted Veterans’ Affairs Committee Toys for Tots Event with Senator Jerry Moran, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, and Veterans Affairs Inspector General Mike Missal

3:00 p.m.

Attended all Senators classified briefing

5:15 p.m.

Senate floor session

6:00 p.m.

Attended National Association of Broadcasters event with Montana Broadcasters Association President and CEO Dewey Bruce

Monday, December 4

3:45 p.m.

Met with representatives from the Southern Rail Commision: Knox Ross, Benito Perez, John Spain, John Robert Smith, Corrigan Salemo, and Steven Ceulemans

5:30 p.m.

Senate floor session

Friday, December 1

6:30 a.m.

Press interview

8:00 a.m.

Met with representatives from the Mansfield Center: Deena Mansour, Executive Director; Rob Saldin, Director of Ethics and Public Affairs Program; Skye Borden, Deputy Director; Sarah Ward, Communications Director; Dexter Tiff Roberts, Director of China Affairs; and Randi Edwards, Program Officer.

9:00 a.m.

Met with Hellgate High School Government classes, as well as Finleigh Schrichte, nominee for military academy

10:00 a.m.

Met with Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis and Dale Bickell (Chief Administrative Officer, City of Missoula)

11:00 a.m.

Hosted event highlighting success of the PACT Act

1:30 p.m.

Met with Business Leaders and representatives from Missoula Economic Partnership: Grant Kier, Missoula Economic Partnership; Chelsea Rabideau, Missoula Economic Partnership; Erika Peterman, SOVA Partners; Mallory Ottariano, YOUer; Felicity Day, Alberton Early Childcare; Mimi Gustafson, Holiday Inn; Ben Bledsoe, Consumer Direct Care Network; Chris Chitty, HONE Architects + Builders; Nick Pence and Dan Opalacz, Bedrock Sandals; Sam Schmidt, Alpine Physical Therapy; Ken Fichtler, Gaize; Thomas Coleman, Silixa; and Debbie Johnston, Morrison Maierle

2:45 p.m.

Toured UFP Edge and met with Logan Jacobson, Don McCann, Steve Nelson and Mike Heisey (Bonner Property)

3:10 p.m.

Toured Botanie Soap and met with Tim Iudicello (Owner of Botanie Soap), Jason Kiely (Manager of Botanie Soap), the Botanie Soap team, and Steve Nelson and Mike Heisey (Bonner Property)