WASHINGTON – Today, the Ranking Republican on the Committee on House Administration, Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., issued the following statement in response to Senator Judd Gregg's, R-N.H., decision to withdraw his nomination to serve as Commerce Secretary for President Barack Obama:

"I applaud Senator Gregg's decision to put the integrity of our Constitution and the fair, accurate count of the 2010 Census before partisan politics.

"I have known Judd Gregg as a friend and colleague for thirty years – he has always proven to be a public servant of the highest integrity and ethics. Any suggestion that he could not carry out the oversight responsibilities regarding the U.S. Census Bureau in a professional and objective manner is absurd.

"Rather, it is the Administration's blatantly partisan attempt to hijack the Census process which is unprecedented and would result in the misallocation of billions in taxpayer funds. It is clear that Senator Gregg recognizes this unfortunate attempt to inject politics where it doesn't belong, and has instead opted to put the American people first."

For more information, please contact the Committee press office at (202) 225-8281.