The U.S. Senate successfully moved Sunday night toward ending the federal government shutdown, in a breakthrough deal between Republicans and some moderate Democrats.

The chamber cleared a key procedural hurdle, with at least eight Democrats joining Republicans to advance the plan to reopen the government toward a final vote likely to be held later this week.

Despite some fellow Democrats joining Republicans in the deal, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) cast the shutdown standoff that enters its 41st day on Monday as having made “the contrasts between the two parties clear."

He said Democrats emerge as the party fighting more for improving health care and lowering health care costs.

“I am optimistic that after almost six weeks of this shutdown, we will finally be able to e

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