Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling, punting the next fight to 2023
NPRCongress votes to raise the debt ceiling, punting the next fight to 2023 Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP The House voted 221 to 209 early Wednesday morning to increase the federal borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion, a figure Democrats say will allow the government to avoid default until early 2023. The measure, which was approved almost entirely along party lines, means Congress will likely avoid any major debt limit debates until after the 2022 midterm elections. Congressional leaders managed to avoid such a threat this year after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., reached a deal to allow a one-time-only change to Senate rules. Democrats also hope to pass President Joe Biden's roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better legislation before the monthly child tax credit program expires at the end of the year.