WASHINGTON - US House Representative David Wu, a Democrat of Oregon, announced Tuesday his decision to resign in the wake of allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances on a young woman.

"The wellbeing of my children must come before anything else," Wu said in a statement. "With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis. This is the right decision for my family, the institution of the House, and my colleagues."

Last week, the Oregonian reported that an 18-year-old woman accused Wu of an aggressive, unwanted sexual encounter. Wu admitted the encounter, but said it was consensual.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Monday asked the House Ethics committee to investigate the allegations against the 56- year-old lawmaker.

As a child of immigrants from Taiwan, Wu was the first Chinese- American to serve in the House. He was first elected to the House in 1998 and is now serving on his seventh term. He had announced that he would not seek an eighth term.