In a Friday afternoon letter to U.S. Senate leadership, Alabama’s top Republican lawmakers urged the upper chamber to pass a “short-term funding extension” to avert a government shutdown.

The deadline for Congress to pass federal funding and avoid a shutdown is Wednesday at midnight.

“As members of the Alabama Legislature, we urgently call on the U.S. Senate to immediately pass a short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown that would severely harm hardworking Alabamians,” Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) and Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) wrote Senate leadership.

“A shutdown is neither sustainable nor a responsible way to govern and the American people understand that. That is why we are calling on Senate Democrats to fulfill their duties, put their politicking behind, and do what’s best for the country: keep the government open.”

Separately, Speaker Ledbetter said he worked with the Trump Administration on the letter, and wrote, “Senate Democrats are playing with fire, & the whole country is going to get burned.”

“There is no path forward for the Democrats’ nearly $1.5 trillion wishlist that would give free healthcare for illegals and cut the single largest investment in rural health care in history- critical funding delivered in the President’s tax legislation that will improve rural health care nationwide,” the lawmakers wrote to U.S. Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), and Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Illinois).

Congressional Democrats have stalled Republicans’ efforts to fund the government with partisan funding demands, including expansions for Obamacare subsidies, taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens, and an additional $1.5 trillion in spending.

In a Monday news conference, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) made his position clear, saying, “What we will not do is support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people.”

In last week’s letter, Alabama state legislators emphasized the impact a shutdown could have on Alabamians, including veterans, low-income families, and the elderly.

“The bottom line is that Alabama — like every other state — relies heavily on federal funding to serve its citizens, and these are not chips Congress should be bargaining with.”

Congressional leaders are set to meet with President Donald Trump today to attempt to work out partisan disagreements and make a deal.

Ledbetter and Gudger were joined by 27 fellow lawmakers, including State Sens. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), as well as House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) and Reps. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn), Danny Crawford (R-Athens), Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile), Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg), Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills), Bob Fincher (R-Wedowee), Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road), Andy Whitt (R-Harvest), Terri Collins (R-Decatur), Matt Simpson (R-Daphne), Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City), Phillip Pettus (R-Killen), Paul Lee (R-Dothan), Corley Ellis (R-Columbiana), Jim Hill (R-Moody), Alan Baker (R-Brewton), Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville), Chip Brown (R-Mobile), Allen Treadaway (R-Morris), Chris Sells (R-Greenville), Steve Clouse (R-Ozark), and David Standridge (R-Hayden).