This federal shutdown is the longest in U.S. history. It has been 36 days. And I’ve said it before and will say it again:  we are not talking about a difference in policy anymore, we are talking about a difference in values. 

I voted to fund the government. Democrats did not. I voted to make sure that the people who serve in our military or work for TSA, air traffic control, or the FBI all receive the paycheck they earned for keeping our country safe. Democrats did not. I voted to fund SNAP and WIC. Democrats did not. I voted to fund the government to keep it working for the American people. Democrats did not, and they continue voting to keep the government closed. 

They even tell us why they do it—they are using the American people as leverage. 

Here's my message to my Democrat colleagues: the American people are not your leverage, and you should not be using them as your pawns. Reopen the government now.

Watch.