(MENAFN) On Friday, the US Senate majority leader appealed to Senate Democrats to cooperate with Republicans in approving a stopgap funding bill passed by the House, which would immediately restore government operations.

John Thune informed the journalists as the federal government stays shuttered for a third day "we have an opportunity to pick up a House-passed bill that—if it passes the Senate—will be sent to the White House, the president will sign it, and the government will reopen. It's that simple and that straightforward."

Thune stated that "all we need is a handful more Democrats."

He stated that 55 senators had already voted in favor of the continuing resolution (CR), which he described as "clean, short-term, non-partisan," but noted that Democrats have pledged to oppose any measure that does not incorporate provisions to control medical costs.

For his part, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the lower chamber had fulfilled its duty.

Johnson stated that "the House did send a bipartisan, very simple, very conventional, 24-page, continuous resolution to keep the lights on ... We passed it, and it's been rejected by the Senate. So, the House will come back into session and do its work as soon as (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer allows us to reopen the government. That's plain and simple."

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