Senate passes bill that clears the way for debt ceiling increase

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill that will make a one-time change to the chamber's rules, giving Democrats the ability to raise the debt ceiling in a simple-majority vote.

The measure cleared in a 59-35 vote, with 10 Republicans joining the Democrats to push it through. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress earlier this month that the federal government could run out of money to pay its bills by Dec. 15, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said passing the measure was a "crucial" move that helps the U.S. avoid "the prospect of a catastrophic, calamitous default on our sovereign debt. This is the responsible path forward — no brinkmanship, no default on the debt, no risk of another recession."

The bill, which passed the House on Tuesday night, now heads to President Biden's desk. Once he signs it, the House and Senate will vote for separate legislation that actually increases the debt limit.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.