The urgent rush to pass a $1.7 trillion spending bill came to a halt late Wednesday amid a partisan clash over a Title 42 immigration provision Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wanted to add to the bill. It was clear his amendment would pass, making it tougher for the final omnibus to get through the House.

The bill has to clear both chambers and get President Biden’s signature by Friday night to avoid a government shutdown. By late Wednesday night, some lawmakers predicted they would need to pass another stopgap bill into the new year.

But at 2 a.m. Thursday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took to the Senate floor.

“It is my expectation we will be able to lock in an agreement on the omnibus [Thursday] morning,” he said. “We are very close, but we’re not there yet.” He announced the Senate will convene at 8 a.m. for an unrelated vote to “bring everybody here to get final agreement and then to move forward.”

Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Desmond Andrews