Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced on Thursday he will help advance a House-passed stopgap measure to fund the government, a move that paves the way for Congress to avert a Friday night shutdown.

Senate Republicans are expected to hold a procedural vote Friday on the GOP-crafted bill, known as a continuing resolution, to fund the government through the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. At least eight Democratic votes will be needed to advance the legislation to final passage, with Schumer’s vote giving cover to his Democratic colleagues.