Landrieu to Lead Senate Small Business Panel

Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) will chair the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for the incoming Congress convening in January, Senate Leadership announced yesterday.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the Louisiana economy," said Landrieu.  “I intend to use my gavel to ensure that they play an active role in our nation's economic recovery, and that the federal government is a supportive and efficient partner in their success.”

Landrieu also chairs the Disaster Recovery Subcommittee of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.  She is also a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She also co-chairs the Common Ground Coalition with Small Business Committee Ranking Member Olympia Snowe (R.-Maine).

“Small business owners should be proud to have Mary Landrieu at the helm of this committee in the Senate," said Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.), the outgoing chairman of the committee. Kerry will take over the committee that has been led by Vice President-elect Joe Biden of Delaware.

Landrieu met recently with representatives of President-elect Barack Obama to emphasize the importance of American small businesses to the economic recovery of the nation and any community affected by future disasters.

Earlier this year Landrieu was awarded the National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business Award and the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has jurisdiction over the Small Business Administration and is also responsible for researching and investigating all problems of small business enterprises.

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