March 2024
Thursday, March 28
11:00 a.m.
Hosted event highlighting the PACT Act
12:15 p.m.
Toured Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Friday, March 22
12:00 p.m.
Senate floor session
1:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from Nomad GCS & Blue Halo: Will Schmautz (CEO, Nomad GCS, Columbia Falls); Larry Lloyd (Senior VP of Business Development, Blue Halo); Joe McNally (Blue Halo); Tony Samp; Drew Hicks and Dylan Ruggles
1:05 p.m.
Senate floor session
2:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Martin Gruenberg (Chair) and Andy Jiminez
6:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
11:55 p.m.
Senate floor session
Thursday, March 21
8:45 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Blinded Veterans Association: Paul Mimms (National President); Wade Davis (National Vice President); Tracy Ferro (National Secretary); Joseph Bogart (National Treasurer); Steven Butler (National Judge Advocate), Timothy Hornik (National Executive Director); Donald Overton (National Legislative Director); Alek Libbin (Deputy National Legislative Director); Meredith Buono-Dagrossa (National Development Director), and Duayne Driscoll (National Service Director)
9:00 a.m.
Met with Karissa Trujillo, Interim Executive Director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition
9:15 a.m.
Met with the Bozeman High School Model UN Team
10:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from Blue Origin: Steven Thompson (President, Thompson Precision Inc., Kalispell); Eddie Ayoob; and Jason Suslavich (Director of National Security Space Policy, Blue Origin)
10:15 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
10:30 a.m.
Phone call with leadership from the Department of the Air Force: Secretary Frank Kendall; General David Allen (Chief of Staff); and General Saltzman (Chief of Space Operations)
11:39 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:15 p.m.
Monthly Rural Press Call
12:45 p.m.
Attended DPCC meeting
1:55 p.m.
Delivered floor remarks urging passage of Congressional Review Act overturning lifted ban on Paraguayan beef imports
2:00 p.m.
Senate floor session
3:15 p.m.
Met with Benjamin Finegan, Executive Director of Bozeman Tenants United
3:50 p.m.
Phone call with Secretary of the Department of Education Miguel Cardona
Wednesday, March 20
8:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association: Russ Bloom (Sun River Electric); Doug Hardy (Central Montana Electric Co-op); Jeremy Mahowald (Upper Missouri Power Cooperative); Joe Schiffer (Mid-Yellowstone Electric Cooperative); Jim Horan (Mid-West Electric Consumers Association) and Carol Bloom
8:15 a.m.
Montana Constituent Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the US Travel Association: Whitney Bergmann (Vice President of Operations, Management Consultants Inc., Polson); Daniel Brooks (Business Advocacy Director, Visit Billings); Brad Niva (CEO, Visit Big Sky); Candace Strauss (Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Montana Chamber of Commerce); and Treon Glenn (Vice President of Govt Affairs, U.S. Travel)
9:45 a.m.
Met with Close Up Foundation student groups from Powell County High School, Terry High School, and Libby High School
10:30 a.m.
Delivered remarks at the American Bankers Association Washington Summit
12:00 p.m.
Senate floor session
12:20 p.m.
Met with students from Twin Bridges High School
12:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from Montana TRIO: Allen Addison (TRIO Student Support Services, Salish Kootenai College); Dan Benge (TRIO Student Support Services, University of Montana); Laura Gittings-Carlson (Executive Director of TRIO Programs, Talent Search, Upward Bound, 2xStudent Support Services, and Equal Opportunity Center, MSU-Billings); Kaitlin Kerr (TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science, Montana Technological University); Adam Maes (TRIO Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math & Science, Montana Technological University); Jennifer Pope (TRIO Student Support Services, MSU-Billings); Lane Britton (TRIO alum, Billings); and Theresa Rader (Interim Executive Director of TRIO Programs, 2xTalent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math & Science, Student Support Services STEM, Montana Technological University)
1:00 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus
2:00 p.m.
Press interview
2:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
2:30 p.m.
Met with students from Chinook High School
2:45 p.m.
Attended Indian Affairs Committee Listening Session
3:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from Carhartt: Gretchen Garth; Gretchen Rose Valade (Director of Sustainability); and Sheila Stickel
4:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians: Tribal Chairman Eric White; Councilmember Gary Tatro; Councilmember Kadi Bizyayeva; Asuncioin Cheskaga; and Alissa Connolly Tribal Member
4:30 p.m.
Phone Call with Ed Siskel, White House Counsel
5:00 p.m.
Attended League of Conservation Voters Reception
5:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
Tuesday, March 19
1:15 p.m.
Delivered remarks at the Opportunity in Education TRIO Public Policy Seminar
2:00 p.m.
Met with leadership from the Fort Belknap Indian Community: President Stiffarm; Councilman Randall Werk; Tribal Recorder Jessica Stiffarm; Attorney Rollie Wilson; Tom Rodgers; Cher Old Elk; and Dan Gans
2:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from the United Postmasters and Managers of America: Rick Newsome (Postmaster, Three Forks) and Dwayne Tedrick (Postmaster, Havre)
2:30 p.m.
Attended joint classified meeting
3:30 p.m.
Press interview
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Bankers Association: Sam Sill (President & CEO); K.C. Hickok (Bank of Bridger); Charlie Pipal (Manhattan Bank); Sam Gilmer (Madison Valley Bank); Colter Combs (Madison Valley Bank); and Mike Grove (Bank of the Rockies)
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Saturday, March 16
11:30 a.m.
Met with Cal and Wydette Demachki, Anaconda
1:00 p.m.
Toured Resodyn and met with Larry Farrar, CEO
Friday, March 15
7:10 a.m.
Press interview
8:15 a.m.
Met with Glacier High School Government classes
10:00 a.m.
Met with Flathead County Law Enforcement: Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino; Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short; Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venizio; Columbia Falls Police Chief Clint Peters; and Whitefish Police Deputy Chief Kevin Conway
12:30 p.m.
Met with Whitefish Small Business Leaders: Josh Smith, owner of Reggie’s Quick Lube; Trek Stevens, owner of Toggery Montana; Delia Buckmaster, owner of Delia Pilates; Marissa Keenan, owner of Wild Coffee and Sweet Peaks Ice Cream; Rachel Schmidt, Outside the Box Consulting
1:30 p.m.
Met with Whitefish Fire Department and Fire Chief Cole Hadley
2:15 p.m.
Toured Whitefish Police Department facility and met with Whitefish Police Deputy Chief Kevin Conway
Thursday, March 14
9:35 a.m.
Press interview
10:00 a.m.
Met with Mira Murphy, Spring 2024 Senate Page
11:15 a.m.
Press interview
12:00 p.m.
Attended Climate-Smart Ag Expo featuring Montanan rancher Jim Stone (Rolling Stone Ranch)
12:10 p.m.
Senate floor session
1:15 p.m.
Phone call with Lieutenant Domenic Easton (active duty Air Force pilot from Helena, student at the National Defense University)
2:00 p.m.
Senate floor session
Wednesday, March 13
8:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from Montana Tech University, Department of Petroleum Engineering: Dr. Todd Hoffman (Department Head); Matthew Balhoff; Hamid Emami-Meybodi; Mohan Kelkar; Charlotte Stockton; Marshall Watson; and Leland Cogliani
8:15 a.m.
Montana Consitituent Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Wool Growers: Ben Lehfeldt, Calli Michaels and Sam Ortmann
9:05 a.m.
Met with a Close Up Foundation student group from CM Russell High School
10:00 a.m.
Chaired Joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing
11:45 a.m.
Met with representatives from Montana League of Cities and Towns: Kelly Lynch (Executive Director of Montana League of Cities and Towns) and Emily Dean (Commissioner, Helena, and MLCT Board Representative)
12:00 p.m.
Attended Caucus Meetings
5:15 p.m.
Press interview
Tuesday, March 12
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the National Guard Bureau: General Hokanson (Chief) and General Jennifer Mitchell (Legislative Director)
9:30 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Indian Impacted Schools of Montana including Lonnie Morin (Executive Director, IISM, Arlee); Evaleen Braveheart (Superintendent, Lame Deer); Trixy BirdChief (Business Manager, Lame Deer); August “Tiger” Scalpcane (Board Member, Lame Deer); and William Walks Along (Chairman, Lame Deer); Voyd St. Pierre (Superintendent, Rocky Boy); Michelle Sangrey (Vice Chair, Rocky Boy); Paulette Standing Rock (Trusttee, Rocky Boy); and Ellis Swift Hawk (Trustee, Rocky Boy); Marvin Youpee (Trustee, Poplar); Brian Gallup (Chairman, Browning); Donna Yellow Owl (Vice Chair, Browning); Steve Conway (Trustee, Browning); and James Evans (Trustee, Browning); Valerie Blackcrow, Leslie Horn, Jackie Blackbird and Kathleen Adams of Harlem
9:45 a.m.
Met with leadership from the City of Kalispell: Doug Russell (City Manager); Mayor Mark Johnson; Councilmember Chad Graham and Councilmember Sandy Carlson
10:00 a.m.
Attended Banking Committee hearing
11:15 a.m.
Met with representatives from Fight Colorectal Cancer: Carla and Dan Becker (Billings); Avianne, Emanuel, Kambria, and Korry Thompson (Billings); Anjee Davis (President); Dr. Fola May (Board Member); and Simone Ledward Boseman (Caregiver to the late Chadwick Boseman)
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:00 p.m.
Met with General Charles Flynn, Commanding General of the US Army Pacific Command
12:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from Stripe: Patrick Collison and Amy Roberti
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus
2:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
2:30 p.m.
Met virtually with representatives from the American Hospital Association: Dr. Heidi Duncan (Family medicine doctor & health policy specialist, Billings Clinic); Jennifer Carmody (Director of Reimbursement, Billings Clinic); Bob Olsen (President & CEO, Montana Hospital Association); Duane Preshinger (Senior Vice President, Montana Hospital Association); Jocelyn Francis (Senior Associate Director, American Hospital Association); and Jason Kleinman (Site-neutral expert, AHA)
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Monday, March 11
3:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Credit Builders Alliance: Dara Duguay (CEO) and Dan Renberg
3:50 p.m.
Met with representatives from KidneyCAN: Debbie Talcott (Patient, Hammond); Duane Talcott (Caregiver/family member, Hammond) and Bryan Lewis
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Saturday, March 9
12:30 p.m.
Attended Weapons Generation Facility Groundbreaking Ceremony
1:30 p.m.
Delivered remarks at MH-139A Homecoming Ceremony
2:30 p.m.
Attended reception for MH-139A Homecoming Ceremony
Friday, March 8
10:00 a.m.
Senate floor session
10:30 a.m.
Met with the Browning Public Schools Board of Trustees: James Evans; Rebecca Rappold; Donna Yellow Owl; Steven Conway; and Brian Gallup
12:00 p.m.
Senate floor session
2:00 p.m.
Press interview
5:30 p.m.
Senate floor session
Thursday, March 7
9:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from Disabled American Veterans: Joe Parsetich (former National Commander, Great Falls); Kevin Grantier (Department Commander, DAV Montana Department); Chase Natalie (Adjutant, DAV Montana Department); Meg Parsetich
9:40 a.m.
Attended Banking Committee Markup
10:00 a.m.
Attended Banking Committee hearing
10:15 a.m.
Chaired Joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing with Disabled American Veterans
11:45 p.m.
Press interview
11:55 a.m.
Senate floor session
12:00 p.m.
Press interview
12:10 p.m.
Press interview
12:25 p.m.
Press interview
12:35 p.m.
Press interview
12:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from Intermountain West Joint Venture: Jim Stone (Member, Management Board and Cattle Rancher from Rolling Stone Ranch, Ovando); Lori Reed (Government Affairs & Executive Support); and Kjersten Drager (ConocoPhillips)
12:55 p.m.
Attended DPCC meeting
2:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
5:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: Lewie Pugh (Executive Vice President); Collin Long (Director of Government Affairs); and Bryce Mongeon (Director of Legislative Affairs)
6:00 p.m.
Met with State of the Union Guest, toxic-exposed Air Force Veteran from Columbia Falls, Fred Hamilton
6:30 p.m.
Attended Secretary of the Senate’s Supper with Fred Hamilton
9:00 p.m.
Attended State of the Union with Fred Hamilton
Wednesday, March 6
8:00 a.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Broadcasters Association: Dewey Bruce (President & CEO); Ron Davis (Butte Broadcasting); Cam Maxwell (Desert Mountain Radio); Tamy Wagner (NBC Montana); and Keith Teske (Cowles Media)
8:15 a.m.
Montana Constituent Coffee
9:00 a.m.
Met with Becky Edwards, Executive Director of the Mountain Mamas
9:15 a.m.
Press interview
9:30 a.m.
Met with a Close Up Foundation Student Group from Shields Valley High School
10:00 a.m.
Attended Commerce Committee hearing
10:15 a.m.
Chaired Joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing
11:00 a.m.
Delivered virtual remarks at the Great Falls Association of Realtors Annual Membership Meeting
11:30 a.m.
Senate floor session
11:35 a.m.
Press interview
12:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana State PTA: Garri Mauch (Advocate and Federal Legislative Chair of the National PTA); Dean Jardee (PTA President); Stephanie Humphrey (Convention Chair); and Megan Cox (Secretary); Dee Hensley-Maclean and Roger Thompson
12:45 p.m.
Attended Democratic Caucus
2:15 p.m.
Senate floor session
2:20 p.m.
Met with representatives from Montana Credit Unions: including Gerry Singleton (President/CEO at Montana’s Credit Unions); Karen Smith (SVP at Montana’s Credit Unions); Donya Parrish (VP-Risk Management at Montana’s Credit Unions); Jason Hagadone (CEO at Altana FCU); Gerry Veis (Vice President – Hi Line at Altana FCU); Angela Kallevig (Red Lodge Branch, Altana FCU); Tom Boos (CEO at Billings FCU); Patrick Erger (Director at Billings FCU); Ray Studebaker (Director at Billings FCU); Mark Lodine (Director at Horizon CU); Susan Tulick (VP of HR at Montana CU); Lael Humble (VP Training & Member Experience at Montana CU); Paul Dockter (Director at Montana CU) and Brenda Dockter; Jim Oehmcke (Director at Russell Country FCU); Colleen Murphy (SVP of Operations/COO at Whitefish CU); and Steve Haugen (CIO at Whitefish CU)
2:45 p.m.
Met with Jill Baker from Humanities Montana
3:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project: Anton Johnson (Army veteran, Missoula); Christopher Richard (Navy veteran, Lewiston); Thomas Sims; Maria Sutherland; Lani Kelp
3:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Edward Jones Grassroots Task Force: Karen Willett (State of MT Co-Chair & Senior Branch Manager, Bozeman); Jared Hauskins (State of MT Co-Chair & Financial Advisor, Bozeman); Ken Seller (Principal – Head of External Affairs, Edward Jones SIFMA Chair); and Jesse Hill
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from Montana AFL-CIO: Jason Small (Executive Secretary); Amanda Frickle; and Erin Foley
4:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America: Brian Dennis (CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County, Billings); Pam Yuen (Director of Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy); Lisa Anastasi (Chief Development & Public Affairs Officer); Maureen Zech (Manager, Administration & Special Projects); and Kevin Wolf
4:35 p.m.
Met virtually with Montana United Ways: Kimberly Hall, President and CEO of Greater Gallatin United Way, Bozeman; Susan Hay Patrick, CEO & Chair, Montana United Ways, Missoula County/Missoula; Randy Riley, United Way of Missoula County Board President, Missoula County/Missoula; Kim Lewis, President and CEO of United Way of Yellowstone County, Billings; Emily McVey, Executive Director of United Way of Lewis and Clark Area, Helena; Alexandria Ventre, Board Member; CPA, Clifton Larson Allen, Helena; Gary Owen, President of United Way of Cascade County, Great Falls; Tom Hering, Board Chair, Director of Information Technology, Great Falls Public Schools; Rob Rezek, Board Vice Chair, Senior Vice President, D.A. Davidson & Co., Great Falls; Juliann Crnich, Executive Director of United Way of Butte and Anaconda; Danielle Golie, Executive Director, United Way of Hill County, Havre; Donna Rowling, Board Member; Vice President/Regional Retail Manager – West Opportunity Bank of Montana; Annie Davies, Western Regional Director, United Way Worldwide
5:00 p.m.
Attended Senate Youth Program Reception and met with Jesse McCormick and Faith You of Missoula
5:45 p.m.
Senate floor session
Tuesday, March 5
2:30 p.m.
Met with Nate Powell-Palm (Cold Springs Organics, Bozeman) from the Organic Farmers Association
2:45 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana School Nutrition Association: Tammy Wham (President Elect/Legislative Chair and Kitchen Manager, Ennis School District #52) and Dave Thomas (Cafeteria Director, Darby School District #9)
3:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Professional Fire Fighters: George Richards (Billings Fire Dept. & President, MT Professional Fire Fighters); Ole Hedstrom (Billings Fire Dept.); Scott DeMarois (Anaconda Fire Dept.); Kelly Lee (Butte Fire Dept.); Mark Lee (Butte Fire Dept.); Derek Harvey (Butte Fire Dept. & Montana State House Representative); Carter Marsh (Great Falls Fire Dept.) Joel Gaertig (Missoula Fire Dept.); Stephanie Gaertig, Jack Gaertig, and Gavin Gaertig
3:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Montana Department of Commerce: Cheryl Cohen (Executive Director, Montana Housing) and Bruce Posey (Chairman, Montana Board of Housing)
3:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Dr. CH “Tersh” McCraken III (Billings) and Dr. Timothy Mitchell (Missoula)
4:00 p.m.
Met with representatives from the National Association of Postal Supervisors, MT State Branch 929: Rick Kindsvatter (President, Great Falls); Brandi Lien (Postmaster, Glasgow); Amy Jones (Postmaster, Superior)
4:15 p.m.
Met with representatives from Montana VFW: Joe Fletcher (Legislative Chair); Tim Peters; Jack Hawley; James Layton; and Fred Hamilton
4:30 p.m.
Delivered remarks at VSO Press Conference urging the passage of the Major Richard Star Act
4:45 p.m.
Met with Mike Linnington of the Wounded Warrior Project
5:30 p.m.
Met with representatives from the Veterans Justice Commission: former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; Colonel Jim Seward; Olivia McLarnan; and Liliana Coronado
5:35 p.m.
Senate floor session
7:00 p.m.
National Association of Broadcasters State Leadership Conference Reception