For 40 days, Senator Chuck Schumer kept his caucus unified. But an end approached without Democrats achieving an extension of health insurance subsidies that are scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

The U.S. Senate on Sunday night voted to advance a proposal that, if passed by Congress, would fund the federal government through January, marking an important step toward ending the nation's longest shutdown.

The Senate by a 60-40 vote advances a proposal to end the federal shutdown after some moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without healthcare subsidy guarantees.

The US Senate took a major step toward re-opening the government after a group of moderate Democrats broke with their party leaders and voted to support a deal to end the record-breaking shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Senate could vote Sunday night on a test vote that would fund the government through Jan. 31 and end the 40-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Enough Democrats are expected to vote to pass the bill,

The days may be officially numbered for the longest partial government shutdown in history. On Day 40 of the funding impasse, enough Senate Democrats now plan to vote for cloture on the newly introduced spending package unveiled Sunday to get over the 60-vote hurdle and finally break the logjam.

A proposal by GOP senators to send money directly to consumers’ health accounts rather than to insurance companies showed signs of breaking a stalemate on negotiations.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune adjourned the Senate on Saturday with no vote held to reopen the government but the chamber will resume session on Sunday.