About the Committee

Overview
    On October 8, 1940, the Senate established the Special Committee to Study and Survey Problems of Small Business Enterprises (also known as the Special Committee to Study Problems of American Small Business). On January 31, 1949, this special committee was terminated, but on February 20, 1950, its functions were transferred to the Select Committee on Small Business. The select committee was terminated on March 25, 1981, when it became the Committee on Small Business, a standing committee. On June 29, 2001, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) changed the name of the committee to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Chairmen of the Special Committee to Study and Survey Problems of Small Business Enterprises
     •  79th Congress, 1940-46 James E. Murray (D-Mont.)
     •  80th Congress, 1947-48 Kenneth S. Wherry (R-Neb.)
     •  81st Congress, 1949-50
          •  Jan. 3, 1949 - Jan. 31, 1949 No Chairman

Chairmen of the Select Committee on Small Business
     •  81st Congress, 1949-50, cont.
          •  Feb. 20, 1950 - Jan. 3, 1951 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  82nd Congress, 1951-52 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  83rd Congress, 1953-54 Edward J. Thye (R-Minn.)
     •  84th Congress, 1955-56 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  85th Congress, 1957-58 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  86th Congress, 1959-60 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  87th Congress, 1961-62 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  88th Congress, 1963-64 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  89th Congress, 1965-66 John J. Sparkman (D-Ala.)
     •  90th Congress, 1967-68 George A. Smathers (D-Fla.)
     •  91st Congress, 1969-70 Alan Bible (D-Nev.)
     •  92nd Congress,1971-72 Alan Bible (D-Nev.)
     •  93rd Congress,1973-74 Alan Bible (D-Nev.)
     •  94th Congress, 1975-76 Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisc.)
     •  95th Congress, 1977-78 Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisc.)
     •  96th Congress, 1979-80 Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisc.)

Chairmen of the Committee on Small Business
     •  97th Congress, 1981-82 Lowell P. Weicker, Jr (R-Conn.)
     •  98th Congress, 1983-84 Lowell P. Weicker, Jr (R-Conn.)
     •  99th Congress, 1985-86 Lowell P. Weicker, Jr (R-Conn.)
     •  100th Congress, 1987-88 Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.)
     •  101st Congress, 1989-90 Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.)
     •  102nd Congress, 1991-92 Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.)
     •  103rd Congress, 1993-94 Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.)
     •  104th Congress, 1995-96 Christopher S. Bond (R-Mo.)
     •  105th Congress, 1997-98 Christopher S. Bond (R-Mo.)
     •  106th Congress, 1999-2000 Christopher S. Bond (R-Mo.)
     •  107th Congress, 2001-02
          •  Jan. 3, 2001 - Jan. 20, 2001 John F. Kerry (D-Mass.)*
          •  Jan. 20, 2001 - June 5, 2001 Christopher S. Bond (R-Mo.)**
          •  June 6, 2001 - Jan. 7, 2003 John F. Kerry (D-Mass.)

     •  108th Congress, 2003-04 Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine)
     •  109th Congress, 2005-06 Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine)

Notes
      * At the beginnining of the 107th Congress in January 2001 the Senate was evenly divided. With a Democratic president (Clinton) and vice president (Gore) still serving until January 20, the Democratic vice president was available to break a tie, and the Democrats thus controlled the Senate for 17 days. On Jan. 3 the Senate adopted S. Res 7 designating Democratic senators as committee chairmen to serve during this period and Republican chairment to serve effective at noon on Jan. 20, 2001.
      ** On June 6, 2001, the Democrats took control of the Senate after Sen. James Jefforts (VT) changed from the Republican Party to Independent and announced that he would caucus with the Democrats.