COMMERCE NEWS

WASHINGTON - Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today applauded the U.S. Senate upon confirmation of Steve H. Murdock as Director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

“I’m pleased that the U.S. Senate has confirmed Steve Murdock as Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Steve will provide great leadership for the 2010 Census, which is so vitally important to understanding our nation, our economy and our people. I look forward to working with Steve and the thousands of Census employees who provide such great service to our country.

“I want to commend Chairman Lieberman and Ranking Member Collins, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn, for their dedication to Census issues and their leadership in supporting Steve Murdock’s nomination.”

Background

Murdock received his bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He taught at North Dakota State University in his home state before joining the faculty of Texas A&M University in 1977. In 2003, he moved to the University of Texas at San Antonio where he served as a professor of demographics. He is currently at Rice University’s Department of Sociology and also serves as Director of the Texas State Data Center.