Sen. Johnson upgraded; assigned to subcommittees

"Senator Tim Johnson has been upgraded from critical condition to fair condition. He is breathing independently and no longer requires the assistance of a ventilator," said Vivek Deshmukh, neurosurgeon at the George Washington University Hospital.

A tracheotomy tube remains in his neck to guard his airway. It is anticipated that Sen. Johnson will be moved from the intensive care unit to inpatient rehabilitation later this week.

"This is wonderful news. Tim has come a long way, and we have a long way yet to go, but we celebrate each victory. For me, it is like watching a miracle unfold each day," said Barbara Johnson, wife of U.S. Senator Tim Johnson.

Also, Senator Johnson (D-SD) has been named to two new appropriations subcommittees: the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee.

Although Sen. Johnson underwent surgery for an intracranial hemorrhage on Dec. 13, he retains his seniority in the Senate and will lose none of his rights during his absence.