The longest government shutdown in U.S. history moved closer to an end Monday after a small group of mostly Senate Democrats struck a deal with Republicans, and a 60-40 vote broke a grueling stalemate that has lasted more than six weeks.

The shutdown could continue a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation.

The legislative package that appears on track to end the shutdown leaves out any clear resolution on the expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits that have made private health insurance less costly for millions of Americans .

The shutdown has caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays as air traffic controllers — unpaid for nearly a month — have stopped showing up, citing the

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