Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will take the first step toward averting a shutdown on Thursday with one week left until a partial lapse in government funding. 

The majority leader announced he would file cloture on a shell bill that will be used to extend funding, declaring from the Senate floor it is “crystal clear” there is not enough time to get the 12 appropriations bills through Congress before the Jan. 19 deadline. 

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