WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, released the following statement congratulating Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on her appointment as Chair of the Committee.

“As Small Business Committee Chairman, I traveled to Louisiana with Mary and I saw firsthand her passion for helping small business owners in her state and across the country. After Louisiana was walloped by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Senator Landrieu put Washington on notice that she wouldn't accept a second-rate federal response and she fought for aid to rebuild her state’s economy. Small business owners should be proud to have Mary Landrieu at the helm of this Committee in the Senate.”

Landrieu is taking Kerry’s place as he leaves to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.