Congressional Democrats have issued a letter urging bipartisan talks to reopen the federal government amid a prolonged shutdown. “We write to demand a bipartisan meeting of legislative leaders to end the GOP shutdown and decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis,” the letter stated, adding that Democrats are “ready to meet anytime, anyplace.” The appeal follows fourteen consecutive Democratic votes in the Senate against a Republican-led spending bill aimed at restoring government operations.

Despite the stalemate, a new report indicates that progress may be underway toward a potential agreement. According to Axios, negotiators are considering a “three-legged” framework to break the impasse. The proposal reportedly includes a Senate vote on Affordable Care Act tax credits, a short-term continuing resolution to extend government funding while a full-year budget is negotiated, and a separate vote on appropriations for military construction, the legislative branch, and agriculture. “I think we’re getting close to an off-ramp here,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R–S.D.).

However, the main point of contention remains the length of the temporary funding measure. Before the shutdown began, the Republican-led House had passed a bill to keep the government open through November 21. If the Senate reaches an agreement, the House will need to reconvene to approve any revised funding plan, extending operations and formally ending the shutdown.