The GOP-controlled Senate will press forward with a procedural vote to advance a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown before a midnight deadline.

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.

The party’s Senate leader said the GOP measure is better than enduring a shutdown, ahead of this weekend’s deadline.