WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday swiftly and unanimously approved President Barack Obama's choice of Sen. John Kerry to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator John Kerry on Tuesday won the unanimous support of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday to replace Hillary Clinton as President Barack Obama's new secretary of state. The full Senate was expected to confirm Kerry later on Tuesday. The five-term senator and 2004 failed presidential candidate has broad support from fellow Democrats as well as Republicans in the Senate. In a signal of the strong support for Kerry, the committee members signed a resolution praising Kerry's work in the Senate before they voted to support his confirmation. ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said on Tuesday he planned to resign, marking the latest departure from President Barack Obama's Cabinet. "I have let President Obama know that I will not serve a second term as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation," LaHood said in a statement. LaHood, a Republican and former Illinois congressman, brought a bipartisan element to the Democratic president's team. LaHood said he would stay on until his successor is confirmed by the Senate. Obama has been under pressure to bring more women and minorities into his Cabinet. ...