"Compromise is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength, particularly when hundreds of thousands of families are being harmed."

"Today I will vote for both gov funding bills b/c I believe we must end this harmful shutdown immediately & it’s our first opportunity in the Senate to do so. Even though they will probably fail, these votes are a start to finding a way to reopen the gov & get WVians back to work" (via Twitter)

"Today, I will vote for both options to fund the remaining parts of the government and fund border security. I’ve consistently been against government shutdowns because I don’t think they are the right way to govern." (via Twitter)

"The issues at our border and impasse over our immigration system weaken America but an indefinite government shutdown is equally damaging to our economy, our security and the well-being of the American people. This needs to end now." (via Twitter)

"I voted twice today to open the government because it should never have been shut down. It is always wrong for either side to use shutting down the government as a bargaining chip in budget negotiations – it should be as off-limits as chemical weapons are to warfare."

"Shutdowns cost the government more money; they don't save the government any money. They don't solve any single problem whatsoever, even when you mask them by only shutting down a little bit of the government, like we are right now."

“When the vote for the president’s proposal failed, we went to see the second alternative. I voted for that as well — again, because I want to see the government get open and government workers get paid.”