One day after federal lawmakers voted to end the government shutdown, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was back in the North Country. Our Matt Hunter has more on what changes the Republican believes are needed in Washington.

GREENWICH, N.Y. – One day after elected leaders in the nation's capital brought an end to the government shutdown, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was critical of Senate Democrats from her own state.

"I oppose government shutdowns. I think it is Washington at its worst,” Stefanik said Tuesday. "I think Senator [Charles] Schumer and Senator [Kirsten] Gillibrand should take their own advice, which is stop playing politics and keeping the government open. That is our job as policymakers."

The Republican was back in the North Country to discuss workforce development challenges with the managers of Hollingsworth and Vose and tour one of the company's two paper mills in Washington County. She says the shutdown was felt at each end of the expansive 21st District.

"Customs and Border Patrol, those law enforcement officials are showing up for work, and yet they are not getting paid. Fort Drum had civilian furloughs; they lost a day of training, which has broader impacts," said Stefanik, who says she was also contacted by the director of Saratoga National Cemetery about funding issues.

While Stefanik was happy the new budget reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which insures more than 21,000 kids in the North Country, she says Congress still needs to act on a bill that would extend DACA while improving security along the Mexican border.

"I do think we will come to a resolution. We have to come to a resolution," she said.

Stefanik believes one of the great challenges is the way federal budgets are passed.

"I do think we need to fix the overall budget process and stop budgeting from crisis to crisis,” Stefanik said. “I do think we need to move to a two-year budgeted appropriation cycle to provide that added certainty so we avoid any of these govern-by-deadline situations we found ourselves in."

Despite working in a deeply divided Washington, she is optimistic there are those on both sides of the aisle ready for change.

"I think both parties understand the budget process is broken,” Stefanik said. “I think there is interest in both parties to solve this.”