Both Democratic senators from Maryland said Sunday that the Senate shouldn't take up any legislation unrelated to the partial government shutdown until a vote is taken to reopen the government.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen Christopher (Chris) Van HollenMid-Atlantic states sue EPA over Chesapeake Bay pollution Trump payroll-tax deferral for federal workers sparks backlash Senators urge administration to make payroll tax deferral optional for federal workers MORE (D-Md.) wrote on Twitter that Democrats in the Senate "should block consideration of any bills unrelated to opening the government," while also calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) to allow a vote to reopen the government.

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"Senate Democrats should block consideration of any bills unrelated to opening the government until Sen. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans allow a vote on the bipartisan bills the House passed to open the government. Mitch, don’t delay. Let’s vote!" he tweeted.

Sen. Ben Cardin Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinPPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Senate passes extension of application deadline for PPP small-business loans MORE (D-Md.) wrote in response that he "agreed" and called the shutdown a "crisis" and a "fundamental failure."

"Agreed. This isn’t business as usual. This is a crisis, a fundamental failure to govern, and Americans are suffering for it," he tweeted. "The Senate should not take up any bills unrelated to reopening the government until [McConnell] lets us vote on exactly that."

Senate Democrats should block consideration of any bills unrelated to opening the government until Sen. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans allow a vote on the bipartisan bills the House passed to open the government. Mitch, don’t delay. Let’s vote! — Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) January 5, 2019

Agreed. This isn’t business as usual. This is a crisis, a fundamental failure to govern, and Americans are suffering for it.



The Senate should not take up any bills unrelated to reopening the government until @SenateMajLdr lets us vote on exactly that. #Shutdown https://t.co/IUiJLWP68R — Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) January 6, 2019

The government is currently in its third week of a partial shutdown, with lawmakers unable to come to an agreement on President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE's demand for $5 billion in border wall funding.

Trump has said he won't sign a funding bill that doesn't include money for the wall, while Democrats have vowed not to approve any wall funding.