Senate Democratic and Republican appropriations leaders expressed optimism Thursday that they can reach a deal on the 12 annual appropriations bills for the fiscal year that started in October.

“I think we’ve got a path forward,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said, according to CQ.

Negotiations are “encouraging at the moment,” said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the top Republican on the committee.

The federal government is funded until Feb. 18 under a continuing resolution. Lawmakers acknowledge it’s better to pass full appropriations bills instead of relying on last fiscal year’s funding levels for all of the current fiscal year.

The House has passed several of its appropriations bills, but the Senate has passed none.

DOD photo by Chad J. McNeeley