The U.S. government is on the brink of reopening, potentially restoring pay to unpaid federal workers and ending a drought of economic data that has left the Federal Reserve flying virtually blind for more than a month.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, members of Congress jumping on the opportunity for free publicity could be the latest sign of a return to normalcy. With thousands of delayed and cancelled flights because of the shutdown, some Congressmen have carpooled with colleagues or taken a 16-hour Harley Davidson ride across the country as they return to Washington D.C. to reopen the government.

The Republican-controlled House is due to vote later today on a compromise that would restore funding to government agencies and end a shutdown that started on October 1 and is now the longest in U.S. history.

Optimism around the looming end to the shutdown drove stocks higher, and pushed the dollar away from its lowest levels for the month.