A bill to suspend the U.S. government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and avert a disastrous default, cleared a key procedural hurdle in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting the stage for a vote on the bipartisan debt deal itself.
Republicans control the House by a narrow 222-213 majority. But the deal will need support from both Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Republicans and President Joe Biden’s Democrats to pass, as members of both parties object to significant parts of the legislation.
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The procedural vote, which allows for the start of debate and then a vote on the bill itself, passed by a vote of 241-187, with 52 Democrats needed to overcome the opposition of 29 Republicans.
If passed into law, the legislation would suspend the U.S. debt ceiling through Jan. 1, 2025, meaning that there would not be a limit until that date, allowing Biden and lawmakers to set aside the politically risky issue until after the November 2024 presidential election.
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