Senator Tim Johnson is continuing to recover from emergency brain surgery -- and is now reading and talking, according to a press release put out by Johnson's office.

“Senator Johnson is using limited full sentences and is initiating conversation with his family and therapists,” said Philip Marion, MD, Medical Director for the Department of Rehabilitative Medicine at George Washington University hospital, where Johnson has been doing speech therapy at the inpatient rehabilitation unit this week.

"Simply put, he is reading," Dr. Marion continued. "The test showed that he is comprehending written material and successfully following written commands. When it comes to rehabilitation, each patient’s recovery is unique but Senator Johnson continues to impress us with his progress during his daily therapy sessions.”