U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a statement following the Senate's approval of a disaster relief package and continuing resolution (CR). The package passed with an 85-11 vote.

"Tonight, we prevented a needless shutdown before the holidays and finally delivered much-needed relief to help communities that have been struck by disasters all across the country," said Senator Murray. She emphasized her efforts in securing resources to address urgent needs nationwide due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and flooding. "This relief will make such a critical difference for folks who have lost it all and are simply working to get their feet back underneath them."

Senator Murray criticized House Republicans for delays in passing the package, stating: "But let’s be very clear: it should never have taken this long or required this much chaos to get this done." She attributed these delays to influences from prominent figures like Elon Musk. "Bottom line: our government should not hang on the whims of an unelected billionaire," she asserted.

She also expressed concerns over potential shutdowns affecting families and the economy, saying they should not depend on whether Musk exercises self-control regarding social media misinformation. "The American people want—and deserve—better than the chaos we got this week thanks to Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and House Republicans."

For over a year, Senator Murray has advocated for additional disaster relief funding. In November, she chaired a committee hearing on the president’s updated disaster relief request, stressing the importance of passing a comprehensive package after one of Congress's longest periods without providing such aid.