HELENA — The longest federal government shutdown in history has dragged on for more than 40 days, but it appears Congress is now on a path toward reopening.

On Sunday night, 52 Republican senators – including Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy – and 8 Democratic senators backed a procedural vote that started moving forward a potential agreement on funding. With the additional support from Democrats, the proposal cleared the 60-vote threshold that had so far prevented funding plans from passing in the Senate.

(Watch the video to hear more from Montana's congressional delegation about the possible agreement to end the shutdown.) Montana elected leaders talk about deal to reopen government

In a statement to MTN, Sheehy said lawmakers had been “working around the clock to end the

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