Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Friday morning to defend his decision to support a Republican short-term funding bill that will effectively help avoid a government shutdown at the end of the day.

WASHINGTON—The Senate headed toward a vote Friday advancing a Republican measure to fund the government through September, as heartsick Democrats implored Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he would support advancing the House-passed continuing resolution, but he also wants Washington, D.C.’s, local budget restored if cuts are made in the GOP stopgap.