A bipartisan group of lawmakers said on Tuesday they have made slight progress toward ending the government shutdown, which is poised to become the longest in U.S. history after another failed vote will drag it into its 36th day.

Senators are getting closer to an agreement on a package of full-year appropriations bills for certain agencies and an accompanying stopgap bill to reopen the rest of government until a to-be-determined date. Lawmakers in both parties suggested many details still needed to be ironed out and there was not yet any broad agreement, but suggested the two sides were having ongoing conversations that have proven productive.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., declined to discuss the nature of the negotiations, saying only that they are in a pivotal moment.

“I don't want to ch

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