March 2023
Thursday, March 30
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Council of Criminal Justice: Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Chair, Veterans Justice Commission; Colonel Jim Seward, Olivia McLarnan; and Liliana Coronado
9:15 a.m.
Met with representatives from TransUnion: Chris Cartwright, CEO; Allison Shuster, Government Relations; and Eli Peterson
9:45 a.m.
Met with representatives from Live Nation: Joe Berchtold, President & CFO; Dan Wall, Executive VP for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs; and Jonathan Lamy, Senior VP, Public Affairs and Policy
11:00 a.m.
Spoke on the Senate floor in support of cost of living increase for veterans
11:40 a.m.
Press interview
12:00 p.m.
Press interview
12:45 p.m.
Attended DPCC meeting
1:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
Wednesday, March 29
8:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Paralyzed Veterans of America: Carl Blake, National Executive Director; Heather Ansley, Associate Executive Director for Goverment Relations; and Morgan Brown, National Legislative Director
8:15 a.m.
Attended Montana Coffee
9:15 a.m.
Press interview
9:30 a.m.
Attended Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing
10:00 a.m.
Met with students from Libby High School, Ennis High School, Three Forks High School, Havre High School, and Powell County High School
10:15 a.m.
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing
10:20 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from Neptune Aviation: Jennifer Draughon, President; Nicholas Lynn, Vice President of Operations
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Chairs meeting
1:30 p.m.
Attended Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing
2:30 p.m.
Attended Indian Affairs Committee business meeting
2:45 p.m.
Attended Indian Affairs Oversight Committee hearing
4:00 p.m.
Phone Call with Father Doyle, President, University of Providence, and Kylie Carranza, Vice President of Advancement
4:30 p.m.
Meeting with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall; GEN Charles Brown Jr., Chief of Staff; GEN Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations; and with Senator Collins
5:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ and National Association of Elementary School Principals’: Gordon Klasna, Lockwood High School, Billings; Sheri Heavrin, Broadwater High School, Townsend; Rhiannon Beery, Bainville School; Matthew Lewis, Garfield Elementary School, Lewistown; Stacy Lemelin, Meadowlark Elementary, Billings; Julie Hornby, Eagle Cliffs Elementary, Billings; Kim Marzolf, Morningside Elementary, Great Falls; and Ted Miller, Columbia Falls Junior High
6:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Tuesday, March 28
8:45 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana State Branch 929 of the National Association of Postal Supervisors: Brandi Lien, Postmaster in Glasgow and Branch Treasurer, and Kally Permann, Postmaster in Belt and Branch Secretary
9:00 a.m.
Met with students from Fairview High School
9:15 a.m.
Met with representatives from the National League of Cities meeting: Bozeman Mayor Cynthia Andrus, Kalispell Council Member Sid Daoud, Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess, Kalispell Council Member Ryan Hunter, East Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson, Missoula Public Works Director Jeremy Keene, East Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell and Aaron Wilson, Missoula Planning Manager, Public Works & Mobility
9:30 a.m.
Met with representatives from Albers Aerospace: John Albers, CEO; and Rob Winston, Executive Vice President, Innovative Technologies
10:00 a.m.
Attended Banking Committee hearing
10:00 a.m.
Chaired Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:00 p.m.
Met with 8th grade students from Clinton School
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus meeting
2:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from Americas Frontier Fund: Zach Beecher, Head of Strategic Partnerships; and Kevin McGinnis, Special Advisor – Public Engagement
2:30 pm
Senate floor session
2:40 p.m.
Met virtually with Sidney High School
5:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
6:00 p.m.
Attended International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Congressional Reception
Monday, March 27
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Friday, March 24
8:30 a.m.
Attended Ray Lutz Medals presentation
9:00 a.m.
Spoke at the Montana Rural Water Systems Association 43rd Technical Conference
1:15 p.m.
Hosted Law Enforcement Roundtable
2:00 p.m.
Press interview
3:00 p.m.
Met with City of Three Forks leadership
Thursday, March 23
9:00 a.m.
Met with National Association of Housing and Redevelopment officials: David Fink, Commissioner, Great Falls Housing Authority/CD Department; Jim McGrath, Director of HUD Programs, Missoula Housing Authority; Teddi Shorten, Chief Occupancy Director, HomeFront, Billings; Greg Sukut, Executive Director, Great Falls Housing Authority/CD Department, Helen Verhasselt, CFO, HomeFront, Billings; and Patti Webster, CEO/Executive Director, HomeFront, Billings
9:30 a.m.
Press interview
10:00 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
11:00 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:15 p.m.
Press interview
12:45 p.m.
Attended DPCC meeting
1:00 p.m.
Met with Mike Pattillo, VP of Sales, Lattice Materials, Bozeman
1:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
4:00 p.m.
Phone Call with Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, CMS
Thursday, March 23
8:15 a.m.
Montana Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from Montana TRIO: Adam Maes, Montana Tech; Amy Verlanic, Montana Tech; Cory Chenoweth, Montana Tech; Theresa Rader, Montana Tech; Laura Gittings-Carlson, MSU Billings; Dr. Dan Benge, University of Montana; Jeannanne Oribo, Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Ed; Kathie Maiers, Salish Kootenai College; and Kelsey Anderson, Helena College
9:15 a.m.
Met with representatives from Joby Aviation: Paul Sciarra, Executive Chairman; Adrienne Schweer, Policy & Government Affairs lead, Defense; and Maggie Hayes, Chief of Staff
9:30 a.m.
Met with David Yarlott, President, Little Big Horn College; Carrie Billy, President, American Indian Higher Education Consortium; and Robyn Hiestand, VP, Bose Public Affairs
10:00 a.m.
Met with Students from White Sulphur Springs High School and Broadwater High School
10:00 a.m.
Attended Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing
10:00 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee executive session
10:15 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
12:00 p.m.
Gave remarks at the Finseca Call To Action Capitol Hill Day
12:20 p.m.
Senate floor session
12:30 p.m.
Met with Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike Gilday, and Commandant of the MarineCorps GEN David Berger
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus meeting
3:00 p.m.
Chaired Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing
4:00 p.m.
Attended Banking Committee virtual member briefing with the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and Treasury
5:00 p.m.
Met with GEN Wilsbach, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, INDOPACOM and Senator Collins
5:50 p.m.
Senate floor session
Tuesday, March 21
1:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Oregon Bankers Association: Gordon Zimmerman, Jenny Bennet, Boyd Elkins, Linda Navarro, Joan Reukauf, Jeffrey Sumpter, and Catherine Weissert
2:00 p.m.
Press interview
2:40 p.m.
Press interview
3:00 p.m.
Phone call with Randy Chesler, President & CEO, Glacier Bancorp
3:30 p.m.
Met with Constituents from Fort Benton: Cali O’Hara, Trevor O’Hara, Taylor Ball and Morgan Axtman
3:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Alzeheimer’s Association: Kimberly H. Bauer, Bozeman; Julie Bushmaker, Whitehall; Jami Funyak, Billings; Claire Marshall, Helena; Twanria McKizzie, Bozeman; and Sue Warren, Great Falls
4:30 p.m.
Attended United Postmasters and Managers of America Congressional Reception
5:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Bankers Association: Cary Hegreberg, President & CEO, Helena; Bill Bickle, Stockman Bank, Miles City; Mike Seppala, Western Security Bank, Billings; and K.C. Hickok, Bank of Bridger
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Thursday, March 16
8:30 a.m.
Met with Tory Bruno, CEO, United Launch Alliance
9:00 a.m.
Met with students from Chinook High School
10:00 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
10:10 a.m.
Attended Banking Committee hearing
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
11:40 a.m.
Phone call with Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks
1:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
Wednesday, March 15
8:15 a.m.
Attended Montana Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Gave remarks at the Air Force Caucus “Quality of Life” Roundtable
9:30 a.m.
Phone call with Amy Gowder, President & CEO, GE Aviation Military Systems
10:00 a.m.
Met with students from Huntley Project High School, Ballantine and C.M. Russell High School, Great Falls
11:15 a.m.
Press interview
11:30 a.m.
Met with General Langley, Commander, AFRICOM and Senator Collins
11:45 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:30 p.m.
Met with COL Lance Whitfill, Deputy Director, Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liasion
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus meeting
2:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association: Russ Bloom, Sun River Electric; Doug Hardy, Central Montana Electric PowerCo-op; Jeremy Mahowald, Upper Missouri Power Cooperative; and Patti Murphy, McCone Electric Cooperative
2:25 p.m.
Senate floor session
2:30 p.m.
Met virtually with Molly Stockdale, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
3:30 p.m.
Chaired Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing
5:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
Tuesday, March 14
1:30 p.m.
Met with Ted Colbert, President and CEO, Boeing
2:00 p.m.
Met with Seth Lederman, CEO, Tonix Pharmaceuticals
3:30 p.m.
Met with constitutents from Bozeman: Hillary Carls, Tom Carls, and Quinn Carls
3:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Physician Assistant Education Association: Maria Michelotti, Butte and Amy Ackerman
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from Indian Impacted Schools of Montana from Lame Deer, Hardin, Rocky Boy, Harlem, Poplar, Brockton, Browning and Arlee
4:15 p.m.
Met with Montana Agricultural Leaders: Dale Schuler, Carter; Dr. Sreekala Bajwa, Montana State University (MSU) VP of Agriculture; Dr. Cody Stone, MSU Director of Extension; and Janelle Booth, MSU Director of Government Affairs
5:00 p.m.
Met with Brian Bird, President & CEO, Northwestern Energy
5:15 p.m.
Met with Dennis Vermillion, CEO, Avista; Collins Sprague, Director of Government Affairs; Jason Thackston, Senior VP; and Heather Rosentrater, Senior VP
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Sunday, March 12
5:00 p.m.
Attended Senators-only Zoom meeting with Treasury Department
Friday, March 10
9:00 a.m.
Met with Daily Inter Lake Editorial Board
10:00 a.m.
Hosted Cutting Prescription Drug Costs press event
10:30 a.m.
Press interview
11:00 a.m.
Met with Flathead Beacon
2:30 p.m.
Phone Call with Department of Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks
3:00 p.m.
Phone Call with Oracle representative Mike Sicilia
Thursday, March 9
9:00 a.m.
Met with constituents from Bozeman: Chris Kellner, Marine Corps veteran and former CIA consultant, Emma Kellner, Cordelia Kellner, and Henrik Kellner
9:15 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Primary Care Association: Cindy Stergar, CEO; Stacey Anderson, Policy Director; Breann Streck, Anna Smith, Olivia Riutta; Maria Clemons, Executive Director, NW Community Health Center; Colette Mild, CFO, One Health; Lara Salazar, CEO, Partnership Health Center; Kathleen Walters, Board Vice Chair, Partnership Health Center; Dr. James Quirk, CMO, Partnership Health Center; Bryan Chalmers, CFO, Partnership Health Center; Jonathan Forte, President & CEO, Riverstone Health Clinic; Megan Littlefield, CMO; Riverstone Health Clinic; John Felton, Health Officer, Riverstone Health Clinic
9:35 a.m.
Press interview
10:15 a.m.
Press interview
11:15 a.m.
Met with Jesse Mullen, Mullen Newspapers Company
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
11:30 a.m.
Met with Tracy Cook, Lead Statewide Consulting Librarian at the Montana State Library
11:45 a.m.
Met with Katie Whitmoyer, Wood’s Powr-Grip, Laurel and Paddy Fleming, MT Manufacturing Extension Center
1:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
Wednesday, March 8
8:00 a.m.
Attended Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Celebration of International Women’s Day
8:15 a.m.
Phone Call with Danny Werfel, nominee to be Commissioner of the IRS
8:15 a.m.
Attended Montana Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives for the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Dr. Paul Sims, Butte; Dr. Daniel Whitney and Ellinor Whitney, Great Falls; and Dr. Devan Munk, DC
9:15 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe Housing Authority: Norma Gourneau, Councilwoman; Debra Charette, Councilwoman; Troy Killsontop Sr., Vice Chairman; Reginald Killsnight Jr., Chairman; and Joseph Littlebird, Member
9:20 a.m.
Press interview
10:00 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
10:00 a.m.
Chaired Joint Senate/House Veterans’ Affairs Committee VSO hearing
10:45 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from the TriWest Healthcare Alliance
12:45 p.m.
Attended Chairs Lunch
2:30 p.m.
Attended Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development hearing
2:30 p.m.
Attended Indian Affairs Committee Oversight hearing
3:00 p.m.
Met with students from REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership program at Montana State University)
3:30 p.m.
Met with Brian Schimpf, CEO, Anduril; Megan Milam, Head of Government Relations
3:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Tourette Association of America – Tristin Kelley, TAA 2023 Montana Youth Ambassador, Great Falls; Stacey Kelley, Parent, Great Falls; Noah Oakes, TAA 2023 Montana Youth Ambassador, Roundup; and Jason Oakes, Parent, Roundup
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana League of Conservation Voters including Whitney Tawney, Executive Director; and Jocelyn Leroux, Program Director
4:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Dawn Sexton, Great Falls; Doug Toelle, Alaska; Mary Janis, Alaska; and Seth Greiner, Senior Manager Advocacy, MS Society, Seattle
4:30 p.m.
Press interview
5:00 p.m.
Attended U.S. Senate Youth Program Reception
6:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
Tuesday, March 7
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Professional Fire Fighters: George Richards, President; Scott DeMarois; Greg Orr; and Lori Johnson
9:15 a.m.
Met with Dr. Nicole Clark, American Academy of Neurology, Helena
9:30 a.m.
Met with representatives from Montanans for Healthy Rivers Coalition: Eric Ladd, owner of Outlaw Partners Publication and Ladd Real Estate Group, Big Sky; KynsLee Scott, outfitter and flyfishing guide, KS Guide Service; Charles Wolf Drimal, Greater Yellowstone Coalition; Scott Bosse, American Rivers; Kevin Colburn, American Whitewater; Kristin Gardiner, Gallatin River Task Force; and Zack Waterman, American Rivers
9:45 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Dental Association: Dr. Ron Davis, current MDA President, Kalispell; Dr. Kevin Miltko, former MDA President, Missoula; Dr. Doug Hadnot, former MDA President and Sue Hadnot, Lolo; and Webb Scott Brown, Executive Director
10:00 a.m.
Attended Banking Committee hearing
10:00 a.m.
Attended Defense Subcommittee briefing
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:15 p.m.
Received award from the Wounded Warrior Project and met with LTG Mike Linnington, CEO; Jennifer Silva, Chief Program Officer; and Jose Ramos, VP, Government and Community Relations
12:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project: Tina Waggener, Army vet, Troy; Anton Johnson, Army vet, Missoula; Jerry Johnson, Air Force vet, Minot, ND; Connie Johnson, Army vet, Brandt, SD; Adam Long, Navy vet, Sioux Falls, SD; and Coleman Brooks, WWP
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus meeting
2:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
3:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana School Nutrition Association: Tammy Wham and Dave Thomas
3:00 p.m.
Met with Veterans of Foreign Wars: Joe Fletcher, Jack Hawley, Jeff Schiep, Fred Hamilton, and Tim Peters
3:30 p.m.
Press interview
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from Mystery Ranch: Alex Kutches, President and Celes Eckerman, Managing Director, Atlantic Strategies Group
4:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Dr.CH “Tersh” McCracken III, Billings; Dr. Leah Miller, Missoula; and Dr. Timothy Mitchell, Missoula
4:30 p.m.
Met with GEN Anthony Cotton, Commander, USSTRATCOM and Senator Collins
4:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
5:00 p.m.
Met with General Dickinson, Commander, US Space Command
5:30 p.m.
Met virtually with representatives from Friends of Traditional Banking
Monday, March 6
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Saturday, March 4
1:00 p.m.
Attended Workers Are Watching Rally
Thursday, March 2
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from Aurigo Software Technologies Ltd.: Mike Tooley, Senior Director of Industry Strategy; Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO; Josh Moriarty, and Jen Cochan, former Delaware Transportation Secretary
10:00 a.m.
Met with representatives Crow Tribe: Chairman Frank Whiteclay Andrew Treble, consultant and Majel Russell, legal counsel
10:30 a.m.
Phone call with Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve
11:55 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:40 p.m.
Phone call with Paralyzed Veterans of America: David Zurfluh, Matthew Mickunas, Tracy Reddick, Victor Tran, Robert Clinton and Mary Fowler
12:45 p.m.
Attended Special Democratic Caucus meeting with President Biden
1:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
Wednesday, March 1
8:15 a.m.
Attended Montana Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from Montana PBS: Dax Schieffer, Former Chair of Friends of Montana PBS board, Helena; Pat Doyle, Member of Friends of Montana PBS; Ray Ekness, Director, Broadcast Media Center, University of Montana; and Aaron Pruitt, Director and General Manager, KUSM-TV/Montana PBS – MSU Bozeman
9:15 a.m.
Press interview
9:45 a.m.
Met with the American Legion: Scott Miller, Montana Department Vice Commander; Christine Nelson, Montana American Legion Auxiliary Legislative Chair; and Roger Hagan, Vice Chair of the National Legislative Commission
10:00 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee Nominations hearing
10:00 a.m.
Chaired second Joint Senate/House Veterans’ Affairs Committee VSO hearing
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
1:30 p.m.
Met with the MT Broadcasters Association: Dewey Bruce, President/CEO; Tamy Wagner, NBC Montana; Ron Davis, Butte Broadcasters; Keith Teske, Cowles Media Montana; Cam Maxwell, Desert Mountain Radio; and Quentin Turner, Manager, State, International & Board Relations
1:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Vietnam Veterans of America: Jack McManus, National President and Chuck Renevier, Vietnam Veteran from Montana
2:00 p.m.
Met with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence
2:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
3:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from Montana’s Credit Unions
3:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from Bonneville Power Administration: John Hairston, Administrator & CEO and Sonya Baskerville, Manager, DC Office of National Relations
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from American Rivers: Scott Bosse, Bozeman; Gia Randono, Missoula; Sascha Douglass, Big Sky; and Darren Calhoun, Crowheart, WY
4:15 p.m.
Senate floor session