March 2023

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