Senator Barbara Boxer made a stop at Scripps Memorial Hospital, Encinitas on Friday to tour its rehabilitation center and learn about its role in treating soldiers with brain injuries. She came away more than a little impressed.

“Scripps has treated over 100 Marines in the program,” noted Boxer during a brief press conference after her tour, “and 77 percent of these Marines have been able to return to their units.”

DENVER–Speaking Thursday at a small dog-grooming shop, Sen. Michael Bennet said small businesses weathering the recession needed the relief provided by greater access to loans, something he hoped to provide through the Small Business Jobs Act he said was falling victim to partisan gamesmanship.

Republican senators filibustered Bennet’s proposal late last month. The bill is designed to spur liquidity through tax breaks for business owners and investors and by bolstering the lending market for small business.

Democratic congressional candidate Julie Lassa called on federal lawmakers Wednesday to take a 10 percent pay cut until the national unemployment rate returns to pre-2008 levels.

The National Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the unemployment rate at 5.8 percent nationally in 2008 and 9.3 in 2009.

Congressman Tim Walz talks college costs with students today while touring Rasmussen College.The congressman got a glimpse of what courses the college has to offer before sitting down with students.During the discussion he learned how students are paying for college and what he can do to help them…

Republican U.S. senate candidate Sharron Angle has been attacking her Democratic opponent, Harry Reid, for failing U.S. troops.

But organizations representing the troops give the Nevada senator high marks.

In an open letter to the people of Connecticut, several Republicans today highlighted their strong support for U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal while laying out serious concerns regarding Republican nominee Linda McMahon.

“We are putting aside partisanship to support and vote for Richard Blumenthal because we know we can count on him to fight for us in Washington. We don’t agree with him on every issue, but we know him to have guts and know-how, and a proven track record of delivering for our state,” the six Republicans wrote.

Sen. Russ Feingold visited Hudson for the second time in three weeks last Friday.

He was in town for an evening fundraiser at the Hudson Golf Club, where he was joined by Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota.

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer renewed her commitment Monday to securing federal assistance for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s plan to accelerate 12 of the region’s transit projects, completing them in one decade instead of three.

Facing unrelenting attacks on her effectiveness as a lawmaker by her campaign rival, Republican Carly Fiorina, Boxer tried to highlight her policymaking skills by joining Villaraigosa, as well as environmental, business and labor leaders for a “working group” discussion that unfolded in front of a dozen reporters and a line of television cameras at City Hall.

On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the passage of the Social Security Act, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare endorsed Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., for re-election.

No surprise there.

PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, joined several local business owners and environmentalists at the Navy Yard Corporate Center in urging the U.S. Senate to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.

Also known as cap-and-trade — or Waxman-Markey after its authors, U.S. Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Edward Markey, D-Mass. — the bill aims to battle global warming by cutting carbon emissions by 83 percent by 2050.