U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) shared well wishes for U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan following his retirement announcement Wednesday.

But Washington state’s senior senator also said she hoped Ryan would make “meaningful” work out of his time remaining in Congress.

Ryan, a Wisconsin Congressman since 1999 and the Republican Party candidate for vice president in 2012, said this week he will not seek re-election in the fall.

“I got to know Speaker Ryan well when we worked together on a bipartisan budget deal in 2013, and while we frequently found areas of disagreement, I have tremendous respect for his commitment to public service and for his willingness to work with me to find common ground and move away from the constant crises,” Murray said in a statement Wednesday.

“In that spirit, I hope that he spends the rest of his time as Speaker working to make meaningful progress for families and the middle class.

“I wish him and his family the best,” Murray said.