Sen. Chuck Grassley is literally praying that Donald Trump will sign the border security bill

WASHINGTON – Hours before Congress is scheduled to vote on a border security compromise that would avoid a government shutdown, the question on many lawmakers' minds is whether President Donald Trump will sign it.

So Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley is praying.

Just after the Rev. Eddie Edmonds finished the Thursday prayer, Grassley, an Iowan who is president pro tempore of the Senate, jumped in with a prayer of his own.

"Let's all pray that the president will have wisdom to sign the bills so government doesn't shut down," he said.

The measure includes $1.375 billion for a barrier along the southern border, and Trump has made clear he's disappointed that it falls far short of the $5.7 billion he has demanded for a wall. His insistence on that money led to an impasse and a shutdown of parts of the federal government in December and January. At 35 days, it was the longest government shutdown on record.

Many lawmakers hope to prevent such a lapse from happening again.

But Trump has not said whether he plans to sign the compromise legislation. If he vetoes it, another shutdown will occur at midnight Friday.

More: Government shutdown 2019: What's in the border security deal up for a vote in Congress?

More: Government shutdown: Border security deal faces vote in Congress as midnight Friday deadline looms

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Chuck Grassley is literally praying that Donald Trump will sign the border security bill