On December 21, PANews reported, citing NBC, that after the House passed an emergency funding bill to prevent the government from 'shutting down', the bill will be sent to the Senate for a vote. All 100 senators need to agree to pass the emergency funding bill to avoid a government shutdown before midnight. When asked whether a vote would take place before midnight, Senate Majority Leader Schumer said, 'We are currently completing the amendment process.' If the Senate's vote goes past the midnight deadline, a government shutdown might only last a few hours, with minimal impact on federal government functions. Meanwhile, the Senate is also working on the Social Security Fairness Act, which may reach an agreement at the same time and be passed tonight.